Do solar treatments to kill pine beetles work?
Solar treatments to kill pine beetles do work but they are extremely difficult to do. If using plastic it needs to be clear and at least 6 mil thick. The wood should be stacked no more than one log high and receive 2-3 months of warm weather prior to flight time. There can be NO holes or rips in the plastic. Beetles emerging from the plastic covered logs sometimes die but usually chew through the plastic and fly away. At higher altitudes the plastic has a tendency to breakdown more rapidly under the exposure to ultraviolet light. Solar treatment with plastic is not a recommended method.
