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Bark Beetles |
Question:
What are the signs of bark beetles? I have a dense pine lot and in one corner a bunch of pines only have needles on the very end of branch. They also look alot thinner-lack of needles- there has been new growth on them, but very small compared to the other trees. This has been getting worse in the last 2 years.
Minnesota Master Gardeners say:
Signs of the presence of bark beetles are small holes in the bark (about the size of #8 shotgun pellets). The female makes one when she goes in to lay eggs and the next generation bores out when they become adults. However, all pine trees will have a few such holes and not be affected. It takes a severe infestation to harm a tree.
You state that you have a dense growth of pines. Pines need sun to grow well. If they are crowded they may be competing for light and moisture. As your pines become larger they need to be thinned out to give them growing room. Cut out the smaller trees and open up the stand so the branches don't touch, then do it again in a few years.
For information on bark beetles see:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mpayres/grants/Itasca/Itasca.es8.htm