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Pine Beetle
The Pine Beetle usually refers to the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) or the Southern Pine Beetle (SPB). Both are tiny, native wood-boring insects that play a natural role in forest ecology but have recently caused massive, record-breaking infestations across North America.
As of early 2026, new outbreaks are currently surging along the Colorado Front Range and parts of the American West, driven by persistent drought and warmer winters that allow the beetles to survive and reproduce more rapidly.
🚩 Signs of Infection
Because these beetles live under the bark, you often see the tree's reaction before you see the bug itself. Look for these three primary signs:
- Pitch Tubes: Small, popcorn-shaped clumps of white or reddish resin on the trunk. This is the tree trying to "pitch out" (flush) the beetle.
- Boring Dust: Reddish-brown "frass" (looks like fine sawdust) found in bark crevices or at the base of the tree.
- Fading Needles: The most obvious sign. The crown will turn from healthy green to yellow, then bright red, and finally gray. Once a tree is red, it is already dead.
☠️ How does the Pine Beetle kills trees?
It’s a bit of a "death by a thousand cuts" scenario, though in the case of the mountain pine beetle, it’s more like a coordinated tactical strike. While the beetle itself is tiny (about the size of a grain of rice), it uses a combination of physical boring, chemical signaling, and biological warfare to take down massive evergreens.
⚠️ Warning on Traps:
Pheromone "bag" traps often attract more beetles to your yard than they actually catch. If you use them, place them at least 30 feet away from the plants you want to protect. If the "bag" traps or treatments doesn't help with the disease a tree removal is highly recommended.