Sprays Ineffective for Preventing Sapsucker Damage on Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum )    (View PDF)

E. Thomas Smiley , Donald C. Booth, and Liza Wilkinson

Abstract: The yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is the primary cause of sapsucker damage on trees in the eastern United States. Twenty sugar maple (Acer saccharum) trunks were treated with repellent sprays and compared with untreated controls. Sprays applied were bitrex, methyl anthraniltate, and thiram. Sapsucker feeding damage was quantified weekly. None of the sprays were effective in reducing trunk attack by sapsucker.

Keywords: Bitrex; methyl anthraniltate; Sphyrapicus varius; thiram; trunk sprays; yellow-bellied sapsucker.

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2009.005