What causes this pine tree problem?

[stso9d]

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

I also agree with other post that nature may be at work here. the tree is probably dead and the bugs are just doing their duty...

 

[ovrszd]

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.

As a Colorado Forest Ranger told me once, "The Beetle problem in Colorado will end when the last Pine tree dies."

 

[Bobrown14]

I had the same thing on a few hemlocks, pileated wood peckers were all over it, tearing off the bark to get the beetles.

Woodpeckers... smh... little devils they are. They can rip holes in the sides of log cabins. Relentless fvcks. I gotta pellet gun and they are sooo smart and aware its very difficult to get even a long range shot at them.
They get the message tho even on a miss, and move on.

 

[pchamlee]

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

Eastern
Pine bark beetle.
Get rid of the tree. You can see where they have bored all around the cambium layer.

 

[mgarner]

Beetles of some sort and you may as well sell the good timber if any, clear-cut and burn or remove the debris. Then convert the property to a more productive use.

 

[fishdrivel]

Lots of good answers here. Some of them correct!
This tree is dead and has been dead for some time.
Long distance analysis? Cannot say from 3000 miles away.
S219 is correct in that there should be small holes through the bark. Larger ones with sawdust or pitch are a different insect.
If pine bark beetles have been killing multiple trees, you may find more obvious signs on trees that have not been dead for so long.
Pine bark beetles leave spider shaped burrows under the bark. Picture attached.

 

[ljjhouser]

There are four things I can say about this:
1. I don't know anything about tree disease.
2. I don't know much about pines.
3. I think you may learn more when you cut the tree.
4. I also believe burning that tree and any others may protect the rest.

Since these are things I believe, I would spend time (as you said) and find how many have problems. Is clearing them an option? I also would call the conservation department (if your state has one). Ask them to send help out to look at it. Our Dept of Conversation would do that. Good Luck. You have succeeded at the first step - Knowing there is a problem.

 

[traneld]

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

the damage looks like what I have seen with a pine sawyer …Pine Sawyers … if you strip the bark you may find the white larvae. But these may not have killed the tree as they also feast on logs from healthy trees that have been cut and stockpiled.

 

[MHarryE]

My brother-in-law bought a home in Arkansas in part due to the 5 acres of beautiful pines on which it was sited. My second visit he asked what could be causing so many to lose bark and die. I went climbing the hill on which they were located and spotted damage everywhere. He hated to see me rip into seemingly healthy trees but I had noticed small holes, and on those could easily strip the bark. Infested really bad. By the time he sold a year ago, half of his pines had been cut for use in bonfires. His location was south of Fort Smith, about 100 miles from the corner of NE Texas. We researched and learned Arkansas has a serious bark beetle problem. We learned: The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) is the most destructive native forest insect pest known to the 13-state southern region–most often targeting loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, and Virginia pine plantations, along with natural pine stands.

 

[daveinlittlerock]

My forester told me to thin the trees. If they are stressed from being too thick, they will be more susceptible to disease, and, in this case, beetles. Thin, and burn dead trees asap.

 

[kpsp50]

From what I can see and what I can tell you have bark beetles they have been there for a while and there is no way to save the tree cut it down and get rid of it before they spread to other trees if they haven't gotten to them yet good kuck

 

[xgnslngr]

Pine Beetle? I live in CA and have lost over 20 pine trees with similar looking bark. But it always started at the top of the tree, dying from the top down.

 

[bitseeker]

It is a major problem here also. Pine trees try to "pitch out" the beetles when they enter to lay eggs for the larvae that do most of the killing. With Climate Change and reduced water, the trees are stressed and have a reduced ability to push the beetles out before they kill the tree. If you are able to supplement the normal rain and snow water, that might help save your other pines.

Hope that helps.

 

[Torvy]

It is a major problem here also. Pine trees try to "pitch out" the beetles when they enter to lay eggs for the larvae that do most of the killing. With Climate Change and reduced water, the trees are stressed and have a reduced ability to push the beetles out before they kill the tree. If you are able to supplement the normal rain and snow water, that might help save your other pines.

Hope that helps.

I loved the Mount Shasta area as a kid. Dad was stationed at Travis.

In NE Texas, we have had plenty of rain of late. Snow, maybe every 5th year or so but nothing of consequence.

I didn't see any evidence of the pitch tubes, whatever that is worth.

 

[Torvy]

It looks like termites or ant trails to me.

After having had 40 pines trees removed I would never recommend planting them as some have suggested. They are a nuisance tree. They cannot be used for firewood. they will not let grass grow and their pine needles are a pain to deal with. Spring time pollen is unreal.

RA

Different strokes, I guess. You can absolutely burn pine for firewood, but mine is destined for greater things. Most of my land is plantation loblolly and not a nuisance to me. I 100% do not want grass growing, much worse allergen. The pine needles do not need to be 'dealt' with, they are natural mulch and keep out weeds and grass. If we wanted we could bale the needles and sell for mulch. I never understood why anyone would want grass growing in a rural setting. Way too much maintenance involved.

The only reason we were marking for removal was for the house and shop to be built. Sadly, the best location for the house has a bunch of healthy mature trees. If prices go up, we can sell the logs to a local lumber mill.

 

[JimRB]

I listen for woodpeckers. If I hear them I know that a tree has some sort of bug infection. A few years ago I had the tree guys three doors down cleaning up a yard come over and drop a three trunk pine tree that dropped needles. I cut up what was on the ground. Green wood is the surefire indication that the tree had pine beetles. Another tree had all the signs last year. Sap tracks and dead pine needles beyond regular seasonal pine needle shedding. Odd that only half the single trunk pine died. I finally got around to cutting it down 2 weeks ago. My sick apple trees also have sings of woodpeckers. They are sick with a fungus infection. For the apple trees bugs get in the stressed trees. One dead and another struggling. Once bark is loose you know you were too late to save anything. I live in Georgia where we have enough pine beetle. When I visited Colorado in 1977 and 1978 the mountains were dotted with dead pines from beetles..

 

[Gem99ultra]

I have been told that pine beetles transfer from one tree to the next by contact. That happens when one infested tree contacts the next, usually by the wind blowing the limbs from one infested tree over against a healthy tree. I can see that happening here on my 12 acres of pine tree mix.

My property has been untended for at least the last 50 years resulting in a thick mirage of young trees trying to spring up but never maturing. They tend to rot off at the base and simply eventually blow over. All of those, I'm cutting and chipping, leaving the healthy mature trees room to continue to grow.

I'm also told that there's no insecticide to apply to stop the pine beetles. Only cure I'm aware of is to cut and burn infected trees. That's a sad way to control the spread. Fortunately we're doing a little better with the Covid pandemic!

 

[EddieWalker]

What do the pines next to this one look like? If it was killed by beetles, then the pines around it will also be infected. If this is an isolated tree, but maybe there are others spread out that have died to, then the beetles, and other bugs, arrived after the tree died and they have nothing to do with its death.

 

[Torvy]

There is one other pine near this one with a much smaller section of missing bark. The rest appear healthy on the surface.

 

[Mikey Z]

4 Reasons Your Pine Tree Might Be Losing Bark
Posted on October 28, 2016 by busybeeadmin
wind damage and landscapingTrees are a great way to add shade and beauty to your yard. Adding a beautiful pine tree is an easy way to instantly improve the curb appeal of your home and increase the value.

However, if your pine tree is sick or damaged in any way, that beautiful tree could become a huge eyesore.

Thankfully, there are some signs that you can keep your eyes opened for and contact a professional landscaping professional to help.

Here are a few reasons that your pine tree might be losing its bark:

Disease. Unfortunately, your pine tree is vulnerable to all sorts of different diseases. One of the more common pine tree diseases will cause needlecast and will lead to the bark of the tree coming off in chunks. Disease is the single most common reason that pine trees lose their bark and their pine needles.
Squirrels. If you notice that a pine tree in your yard is losing its bark – look for signs of squirrels. These pesky little critters will actually gnaw on the bark and remove it to get better access to the trunk of the tree. If your pine tree has squirrels nesting in it and they continue to gnaw on the bark – they will eventually kill your tree.
Lightning. This is an unusual though possible cause for your pine tree to lose its bark. The lightning can actually burn the bark right off of the trunk of the tree. The lightning doesn’t need to strike the tree directly either. In fact, a simple cloud-to-ground lightning strike will lead to the pine tree bark damage.
Nature. Some pine trees will just start to lose bark as a process of shedding that is completely natural. In these instances, there is no reason to be concerned as your pine tree is simply going through a normal process.
If you have pine trees on your property and you are worried about one or more of them losing bark – make sure to contact a professional tree care specialist who can help you to triage the problem. A tree that is shedding large amounts of bark at an alarming rate could have a serious problem and should be inspected right away.

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HOPE THIS HELPS

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

Woodpeckers will peel bark off trees if they hear insects under the bark. Look for pieces of bark under the tree.