Beware the Southern Pine Beetles

by | Aug 27, 2018 | News

Be aware of southern pine beetles in your trees.
Do you have pine trees in your yard? Have you taken a look at your pine trees lately? You’ll want to inspect your trees for Southern Pine Beetles. The southern pine beetle’s favorite tree to feed on is the loblolly pine, but will go after longleaf and slash pines, as well.

 

What are Southern Pine Beetles?

From the USDA Forest Service

The southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis, is a minute (3 mm), invasive insect that is native to southeastern states and is the most destructive insect pest of their forests. Its range extends from New Jersey to Florida to Texas to Illinois. The SPB must kill its host pines to reproduce, and attacks trees en masse. The SPB causes significant and rapid economic losses in all forest types, including traditional forests, urban forests, watersheds and viewsheds, and negatively impacts habitat for endangered species and recreational areas. In addition, human safety and property are threatened by SPB-killed trees, which may be susceptible to fire and whose removal costs usually exceed the tree’s value.

 

How Can You Tell If You Have Them?

A crown of off-colored needles — orange, red, yellow, or a combination of those colors — is, perhaps, the most obvious external indicator of infestation. Other indications are the presence of sawdust around the base of the tree, pitch tubes on the outside of the bark, and boring galleries under the bark of the tree.

 

Reports of Beetles in Atlanta

Southern Pine Beetles are making their presence known in metro Atlanta. If you think you might have an infected tree, give us a call to take a look.

Need Advice? Call Atlanta Tree Professionals

Call the pros at Atlanta Tree Professionals to learn if you have Southern Pine Beetles in your trees. ATP brings preventive tree care service to your GA home. We are your tree service experts serving Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and metro Atlanta. We’re also a member in good standing with the Tree Care Industry Association, which sponsors the Tree Care Tips website for homeowners.

 

Call (404) 644-8733