Southern Pine Bark Beetles in the Urban Environment

Abstract

Five species of bark beetles attack pine trees in the South. The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, is the most notorious because of the extensive destruction it periodically causes to commercial pine forests. However, the three species of Ips engraver beetles and the black turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans, collectively may be more destructive than the southern pine beetle in urban situations. Several insecticides are registered for the prevention and control of southern pine bark beetles, but insecticide treatments are expensive, and control is difficult. Most bark beetles kill pine trees very rapidly and symptoms of attack usually are not detected in time to save infested trees. The best way to prevent losses to bark beetles is to maintain healthy trees.