What causes this pine tree problem?

[Torvy]

Agree, that tree has been dead a while. But hard to tell if it was beetles that did the killing or just beetles that showed up later. There are both kinds. What I see under the bark is from a type of beetle that goes after the dead wood, not the kind of beetle that would have killed a live tree. I see the same exact evidence on my pine saw logs if I let them sit for more than a couple months in summer.

There are signs you can spot on a live or dying tree to narrow down if it's pine beetles, such as holes with sawdust, holes with pitch coming out, etc. With many pine beetles, you only notice their presence from exit holes when they leave the tree, which is too late. By then, the needles will be losing their green color.

Thanks, I'll have to look a little closer and check into treatments and prevention. Most of my property is pine forest...I don't want to lose them all, that is half of the reason we bought out here. We are a little far east for the mountain beetle, but probably a cousin.

 

[Torvy]

I was only guessing from the limited information you provided.

KC

No worries. I honestly appreciate your input. It just struck me funny because I knew how far up the tree it went. Picturing Rudolph and his mates flying up there to do some rubbing...

 

[oosik]

The ONLY trees on my 80 acres and for miles around - Ponderosa pines. The picture looks like Pine Bark beetle. I'd like to see a picture from ground level - up 20 or 30 feet.

The answer to beetle infestation - cut the tree down and completely burn it.

Usually the beetle will only attack trees that are less than healthy to start with.

 

[Torvy]

I thought I took one further up the tree, but me and tech sometimes disagree.

I have one zoomed out a bit further. The damage is similar further up the tree, at least 40 feet, maybe more.

 

[oosik]

OK - Torvy. Then I would DEFINITELY say - Pine Bark beetle. With that degree of infestation - the only answer, cut and burn. The sooner the better. The beetle infestation can/will spread to other pine trees.

Over a ten year period here - I will loose eight to a dozen pines due to the beetle. Spraying would be a very expensive undertaking here.

I cut and burn. I thin and chip my young stands of pines. This ensures only the very healthiest will continue to grow and resist the beetle.

 

[Torvy]

Thanks, I figured you would know. Looks like I have work to do over Christmas break.

 

[oosik]

Yes - the beetle control is an ongoing project for me. It will never end here. There are thousands and thousands of acres of pines around my puny 80 that have absolutely no control program.

This is open range cattle country. "They" could not care less about the pines.

 

[old and tired]

Ipps bark beetles attack up high, usually in dryer times. They normally don't kill a tree but rather a branch or so but they can kill the tree if there are enough of them.

The Photo doesn't show anything with Southern Pine Beetles...

What you are seeing there, after the tree is dead, wood borers will come in and feed. There are NO southern pine beetle galleries, in that photo. The galleries are very distinctive. Also, southern pine beetles need a live tree to attack (to be able to complete it's life cycle.) Once southern pine beetles attack a live tree. The tree's first defense is to push them out with sap. Which creates "Pitch Tubes" White pop-corn structures on the outside of the tree on the bark. Again, not seen in your photo...

 

[oldballs]

Here's what my Pine beetle disease looks like when the tree is dead........

 

[jyoutz]

Out marking trees for removal and saw this. Anyone know what it is?

Looks like bark beetles have killed the tree and some animals have knocked the bark off. Woodpeckers and bears often do this to get at the grubs under the bark of dead trees.