Page 26 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 3 - Summer 2024

Beetle Mania
By Stasia Kelly
T hree little words are capable of striking fear in the heart of a forest landowner: “southern pine beetles.” When
followed by “It’s bad,” the dread just might be audible. While smaller than a grain of rice, southern pine bee- tles (SPB) have hearty appetites and lots of relatives.
Black turpentine and Ips beetles bring on headaches too.
Observant landowners are well aware of beetle infestation signs, including boring dust, pitch tubes, fading crown color and dropping green needles. Beneath the bark, there are squiggly trails of “beetle juice” (galleries) that show the insects’ feeding and procreation paths. These galleries, with shapes specific to each species, are what eventually kills the tree by girdling it. It takes a knowledgeable forester to deter- mine which beetle has invaded, and that’s where the Georgia Forestry
Commission (GFC) comes in.
On the Move
It’s been a busy spring for GFC forest health specialists and forestry consultants statewide. Concerned Georgia landowners have been calling with questions about infestation signs and many have led to positive identification of SPB activity in certain locations. While outbreaks hav- en’t been as severe as some recorded in past years, for those targeted, they’re plenty serious.
Southern pine beetles have earned their reputation as the most destructive forest pest in the Southeast United States. They’ve killed almost $300 million worth of pine trees in Georgia since 1972. Based on more than 35 years of aerial survey data in Georgia, SPB outbreaks tend to be cyclic and often correspond with weather events of drought or flooding, depending on the location within Georgia.
In 2024, SPB activity has risen. It’s a trend that was not unexpected, based on what was noted in aerial surveys from the fall of last year. Many SPB spots detected in the late fall and early winter were still active despite cold temperatures. This was the primary indicator that 2024 was going to be a busy season.
From top right: Each type of pine beetle leaves a signature trail.
“Too far gone to salvage”: This recent SPB kill in Greene Co. decimated 7+ acres of pine to the tune of $10,000. A buffer will be cut and other tracts thinned. Forester Gary McGinnis hangs a special trap that lures SPB for area outbreak projections.
Tracking the Southern Pine Beetle in Georgia
24 | GEORGIA FORESTRY