Pine Beetles

Did you know that the southern pine beetle is the most destructive insect in the southern part of the US?

Pine beetles are attracted to weakened or distressed trees.There are four stages in the life cycle of a pine beetle (egg, larva, pupa and adult).  All of these stages can be found in your trees all year long.  They do develop faster in the summertime than in the wintertime.Signs of a pine beetle infestation include white pitch tubes, running pitch, sawdust at the base of the tree, and many small emergence holes in the bark.  The larvae chew curved galleries (tunnels) under the bark and can kill the tree.

The best bet for management of a pine beetle infestation is tree removal.  An infested tree is very unlikely to survive.  If it is not removed it makes for a great source for the beetles to attack nearby trees.Although there are insecticides, such as lindane, which can be sprayed on the trunk of the tree; these treatments can require numerous applications and become very costly.Let our experts at Gordon's Tree and Crane Service come out and evaluate your trees to see if you may be facing an infestation of your pine trees.