Apparently the beetles are bugging more people than Helena National Forest officials expected, causing them to postpone the April 30 open house where beetle-repelling capsules were to be distributed.

"We got just under 5,000 requests from more than 200 individuals," said Amy Teegarden, forest spokesperson. "Basically, the supplier can't meet that demand as quickly as we had wanted, so it will take longer to get them."

The delay in receiving the capsules, as well as the meeting to explain their use, shouldn't affect the public's ability to protect their trees, Teegarden added.

"Mid-May still gives people plenty of time to pick-up their orders before they need to attach the beetle block capsules to their trees, sometime around mid-June," Teegarden said. "We apologize for the inconvenience, but we really have no control over the delivery date."

Mountain pine and Douglas fir bark beetles already have eaten their way through millions of trees in Western forests, and are expected to kill every lodgepole pine tree in Colorado and southern Wyoming within five years.

In a typical year, bark beetles are a natural forest resident that provides valuable services in limited numbers by embedding themselves in older trees near the end of their life cycles. Those trees die and provide habitat for other creatures.

But in aging forest and dense tree stands, coupled with years of drought conditions, have allowed six types of beetles to multiply to levels that are cutting huge swaths across the Rocky Mountains.

Already, the Helena National Forest is showing signs of bug infestations, and forest officials have resorted to tacking verbenone and methylcyclohex (MCH), synthetic pheromone packets that repel the mountain pine and Douglas fir beetles, to trees.

Earlier this year, they announced that the synthetic pheromones also would be available to the public through a group buy sponsored by the Helena forest, in an attempt to protect private property.

In addition, the forest set up a "bug line" for people to call for information about insect activities and prevention measures. Teegarden said they're averaging between 10 to 15 calls per day.

That number is 495-3755. Callers should leave a message and they will be contacted within 48 hours.

The tell-tale sign of a beetle outbreak are bore holes where sap runs out and mixes with sawdust left by the beetles. Often, the sawdust also is present in little mounds under a tree. Infected trees usually, but not always, die.

The pheromone packets work by confusing the beetles. Beetles emit one pheromone that asks other beetles to come attack a tree, then emit a second pheromone telling other beetles to go away.

The packets tacked to trees give off the second pheromone, theoretically repelling the bugs. But at $8 per pack, they're expensive, with around 40 packs needed per acre to protect stands of trees.

Teegarden said they'll reschedule the April 30 meeting for sometime in May. Foresters and consultants also will be available to visit with landowners about identifying insect activity, prevention efforts and mitigation to reduce wildfire risks.

Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076 or eve.byron@helenair.com