According to the Colorado State Forest Service, spraying is most effective as a preventative measure. Ask permission to experiment on some trees in a forested area. A forestry expert can help you select two different types of insecticide sprays to test for effectiveness and provide training, equipment and supervision for safe application of the dangerous chemicals. Tag the trees in two groups and spray half with one chemical and half with the other. Make weekly observations and calculate the percentage of treated trees that become infested after the chemical treatments. Compare which group shows a lower rate of infestation.
The environmental impact of insecticide requires responsible scientists to ask, "Does spraying noninfected trees with insecticides prevent pine beetle infestation?" before deciding whether to justify its use. Choose healthy green trees at varying distances from infected red trees. With adult supervision, spray half the trees and leave the other half untreated. Visit the site weekly for eight to 12 weeks to check for infestation. If some are infected and some are not, compare whether the insecticide treatment or distance from previously infected trees affects the spread of the infestation.
Solar treatment is the process of baking infected logs in the sun to a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce the pine beetle population. Haul some infected logs at least a mile from the site into an open, sunny field during the warmest and driest season. Thoroughly soak one group with water and cover with thick, clear plastic. Seal all the edges securely. Rotate the non-covered logs one-third of a turn every few weeks, leaving them to bake in the sun for eight to 12 weeks. Compare which group more effectively clears up the pine beetle infestation.
If you have access to some live pine beetles, compare the impact they have on the forest, depending on the types of trees planted there. Prepare two habitats that simulate the forest conditions. In one, place different types of similar age and size pine logs. In the other, place a mixture of pines, spruce, birch, aspen, willow, oak and other woods of differing sizes and ages. Insert 20 or more pine beetles into each habitat. Observe the logs over several weeks for signs of the blue stain that signifies pine beetle infestation. Compare the infestation in the all-pine habitat versus the mixed-growth forest to determine the best forestry policy on replanting areas affected by pine beetles.