Southern Pine Beetle

Insect Pest

High Threat

Affects: Loblolly, shortleaf, Virginia, pitch, and other southern pines

Photo: Richard Spriggs / USDA Forest Service (CC-BY-3.0-US (Bugwood))

Identification & Biology

Small bark beetle (size of a grain of rice) that mass-attacks stressed pines. Trees die rapidly when beetle populations overwhelm defenses. Outbreaks can kill thousands of acres of pine.

Current Status

Endemic throughout the Southeast. Periodic major outbreaks, worsened by drought.

States affected:

Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Texas

What Homeowners Should Do

Maintain tree vigor through proper watering during drought. Don't wound pine bark (lawn mower damage is a common entry point). Remove infested trees promptly - they become beetle breeding sites.