Southern Pine Beetle

Pine Beetles tend to infest pines when the tree is under much stress, such as flood, drought, poor nutrition, mechanical damage, and fire. You may never see the actual beetle as the SPB is smaller than a grain of rice, but a tell-tale sign is the tiny insertion holes where they bore into the tree, where pine resin has dried. There will be small wood shavings around the base of the tree from the beetle, creating 'galleries' as it bores into the bark. The female pine beetle will construct these galleries to lay her eggs and feed on the tree's nutrients.

The beetle disrupts the tree's ability to transport essential water and nutrients, and can even introduce bluestain fungus that further harms the tree and leads to a rapid decline in health. Once one beetle has taken residence in a pine, it releases pheromones to attract more beetles, leading to the mass attack of surrounding pines. Pine beetles are some of the most destructive native insects and have led to the destruction of millions of acres of pines across America.

If you have one or two pines on your property that you believe are in the early stages of SPB infestation, a systemic insecticide is recommended. However, due to the aggressive nature of the SPB, immediate removal and salvage are highly recommended to prevent surrounding trees from exposure and further spread. If you have multiple acres of pines on your property and find signs of SPB, contact your local forester for information about how thinning, salvage, and prescribed burns can protect your timber.