Impacts of the Southern Pine Beetle on U.S.

Forest Habitats
Lauren Seitz
Stockton University
Wildlife Management
Dr. Catherine Tredick
 The Southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann) is a pest insect
species traumatizing and threatening forests throughout the United States. Its name can
give a hint to its destructive manner, “Dendroctonus” translating to “tree killer”. (Booth)
Often believed to be an invasive species due to its destructive tendencies, the Southern
pine beetle is actually native to the southern and southeastern United States areas. (UF
IFAS 2000) Though most prominent in the south, their range has extended to additional
states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, Florida, and even
Central America. (Booth)
Southern pine beetles are small insects that can slightly vary in color—they are
reddish-brown to black, darkening with maturity, reaching 2-4 mm in size; making them
smaller than a grain of rice. (Maryland Department of Agriculture) Their life cycle falls
between 35 and 60 days, and about 6 generations may exist each year. (Booth) Ben
Powell, a Clemson Extension agent, (2016) states that up to 8 generations may exist in a
given year. Of their life cycle, Southern pine beetles are adults for only 6 to 14 days.
(Powell, 2016) The beetles continuously develop throughout the year, though their
development is slower during the winter. (Booth)
Every 6-10 years, the Southern pine beetle population dramatically increases, and
the population remains at a peak for 2-3 years. (Powell 2016) The majority of the beetles
flee to the pines in spring, around the same time that the dogwood trees are blooming.
(Booth) Once the beetles are present, attacks can occur anywhere between early spring
and fall. (Booth) The female beetles are the initiators of the attack, and once a host tree is
chosen, a pheromone, Frontalin, is released which attracts the rest of the population and
acts as a mating call. (S.R. Clarke, J.T. Nowak 2009) Following mating, the adult beetles
puncture the tree bark, and lay eggs within the tree. (Booth) The eggs hatch somewhere
within the range of 2-9 days and the new larvae migrate into the inner bark of the tree,
which expands the galleries created by their parents. (Booth) Upon maturity, they work
their way to the outer bark, and an open hole is left in its place. (Booth) The new adults
typically leave the tree they were born in, and congregate on a tree nearby, or venture off
to find a new host tree. (Booth)
Though Southern pine beetles can infect any of the pine species native to the
southern states, the most susceptible species are shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and
loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). (Booth) Other commonly infected pine species include pitch
pine (Pinus rigida), pond pine (Pinus serotina), and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana).
(S.R. Clarke, J.T. Nowak 2009) Attacks frequently occur after periods of high stress—
frequently including floods and tropical storms. (Powell 2016) The outbreaks have also
been commonly observed and linked to wet, low-lying pine stands. (S.R. Clarke, J.T.
Nowak 2009) Trees that are damaged, stressed, or dying are usually the most susceptible
to Southern pine beetle attacks. (Maryland Department of Agriculture) Forests that have
a high density of saw timber and pulpwood are the victim to the majority of the
infestations, and cause millions of dollars worth of damages. (Maryland Department of
Agriculture) When a host tree is selected, the attack typically begin below the low tree
branches, or mid-trunk, eventually travelling to the lower crown. (Booth) Infestations are
considered to be an outbreak when one or more infestations per 1000 acres occur. (S.R.
Clarke, J.T. Nowak 2009)
 Infested trees are called “spots”, and there is little knowledge and observations of
the first 6-8 weeks of Southern pine beetles life because detection and confirmation is
difficult until the first tree dies from damage—and the information that does exist is
inference based. (M.P. Ayers, et al.) There is a strong correlation between Southern pine
beetle spots and stands with high basal areas, as well as loblolly stands between the ages
20 and 40, with less infestations as the stand aged. (M.P. Ayers, et al.) In addition to
these observations, Southern pine beetles’ reproductive success is also impacted by the
amount of resin flow in the host tree. The change in needle coloration is one of the most
obvious signs of Southern pine beetle damage. (Powell 2016) Within 2-3 weeks, the
trees’ needles begin changing colors. (Maryland Department of Agriculture) The
originally green needles become a pale green, fading to yellow, and eventually a reddish-
brown. (Powell 2016) When the tree is showing signs of infestation, the infection is not
only in a branch or section, but is spread throughout the entire crown. (Powell 2016)
Airplanes can be used to get an aerial view of forests, and the discoloration of the spots
can help identify sites of Southern pine beetle infestation. (M.P. Ayres, et al.) Anywhere
between 25,000 and 50,000 Southern pine beetle adults can be present in average sized
spots, with larger sized spots, or larger infected trees being the host to more than 100,000
adults. (M.P. Ayres, et al.) If the infestation is not dealt with and the spots are active
come midsummer, there is a high probability that the spot will increase in size, and
spread the beetles to unaffected trees in the spring. (M.P. Ayres et al.)
Once a tree has been invaded and infested, the bark of the tree also undergoes
visual changes. (Maryland Department of Agriculture) Pitch tubes appear on the trunk of
the tree, which Powell (2016) describes as resembling “crusty popcorn.” Pitch tubes are
the result of the beetles drilling into the bark of the tree, and are formed due to the sap
seeping out of the newly made wound. (Powell 2016) It is also noted that when the
formation of exit holes and sawdust develop on the bark, the tree is too overwhelmed,
and will continue to decline until it finally dies. (Powell 2016) Beneath the mutated outer
bark layer, the beetles create “S” shaped galleries that wind beneath the bark. (Maryland
Department of Agriculture) It is estimated that each year, Southern pine beetles are
accountable for the loss of 100 million board feet of saw timber and 30 million cubic feet
of pulpwood. (S.R. Clarke, J.T. Nowak 2009)
Both, adult and larval Southern pine beetles feed on the phloem tissue, which lies
beneath the bark. (Booth) The feeding on the phloem tissue can cause the tree to die.
(Booth) Southern pine beetles also carry a fungus, blue stain fungi, which stick to their
bodies and cuts off the water supply to the tree. (Booth) The blue stain fungus establishes
itself on the sapwood, and interrupts the water flow to the crown. (Booth) The
introduction of the fungus is fatal to the tree, even if the beetles and/or their larvae die.
(Booth)
The Colopetera: Cleridae (Thanasimus dubius) is one of the Southern pine
beetles’ natural predators. (Reeve) The Coleoptera: cleridae are attracted to the
pheromone released by the Southern pine beetle, Frontolin, and are able to locate and
invade the Southern pine beetles’ host tree. (Reeve) Like the pine beetles, the eggs are
laid on the tree, this time in the barks’ crevices. (Reeve) Once the eggs hatch, the larvae
work their way into the tree, and they begin to attack the immature Southern pine beetles.
(Reeve) Though the Coleoptera: cleridae have the ability to form their own tunnels, and
use the galleries created by the pine beetles to find those hiding in the phloem layer.
(Reeve) Typically, two generations flood the infested tree, with their population the
highest in spring or fall. (Reeve) Though the Coleoptera: celridae do make an impact in
ridding some of the Southern pine beetle population, especially because adult and larvae
feed on the pine beetles, it is difficult to keep up because their population is much
smaller, with less generations. (Reeve) Though evidence shows that they can help control
the pine beetle populations, there is no evidence that suggests that natural predators can
prevent an outbreak from occurring. (Reeve)
The Southern pine beetle made its re-entry into New Jersey during 2001.
(Rutgers) Since it’s re-entry, 26,600 acres of forests have been severely impacted by the
Southern pine beetle. (Rutgers) Approximately 440,000 acres of South Jersey are pine
forests, and with an average of 1,000 acres being devastated each year, the Southern pine
beetle poses a serious threat to our forested areas. (Rutgers) Over half of the 26,600 acres
impacted since 2001 were infested during 2010. (Rutgers) During 2010, New Jersey had
its warmest growing season, with below average precipitation and an average temperature
of 68.3°F. (Rutgers) As of now, the Southern pine beetle remains in South Jersey, but if
action is not taken, Rutgers estimates that 80% of the states’ pine forests could be
impacted over the next 10 years. After Southern pine beetle attacks, forests are more
susceptible to fire because of the increased amount of standing dead trees and leaf litter.
(Rutgers) The standing dead trees also no longer provide canopy cover, which leads to
the forest floor and vegetation drying out quicker, increasing the risk of wildfire.
(Rutgers) These damaged areas are observed to burn at a hotter temperature and are
harder to control than non-damaged areas. (Rutgers)
Being labeled as one of the most destructive pest to pine species, it is detrimental
that management strategies are implemented to help control and reduce their populations.
(S.R. Clarke, J.T. Nowak 2009) It is important to reduce populations because when the
population is thriving, the beetles can potentially kill healthy, unsusceptible trees. (Booth)
Because Southern pine beetles thrive in damaged, unhealthy forest environments, the
most recommended long-term solution is to actively maintain healthy pine stands.
(Maryland Department of Agriculture) Damaged trees attract pests, so removing
damaged trees, conducting regular inspections, fertilizing, mulching and watering can
help maintain pine stands. (Booth) There are also preventative bark treatments available,
acting as a practical and economically friendly management method. (Booth) These bark
treatments are especially useful in areas with trees of high value. (Booth) The USDA
Forest Service has a program called the Southern Pine Beetle Information System—a
branch that is responsible for frequent aerial surveys, which narrows down locations with
Southern pine beetles present. (M.P. Ayres, et al.) When spots are identified, someone is
sent to perform a ground inspection and management methods are applied spot by spot,
ensuring all options are being considered to find the most effective management method.
(M.P. Ayres, et al.)
Another highly recommended preventative measure is the thinning of forest
stands. (Rutgers) Rutgers recommends thinning forests so the trees are at least 20 feet
apart, or stand densities with basal areas of 120 ft2 or more should be thinned so they are
no more than 80 ft2 per acre. (S.R.Clarke, J.T. Nowak 2009) This increases tree growth
and form, and intervenes in the pheromone communication that draws beetles to the area.
(Rutgers) Thinning reduces the stands susceptibility to Southern pine beetle invasion, and
reduces competition amongst trees. (USDA Forest Service) Thinning is an active
management strategy used by many organizations, one of which is the USDA Forest
Service. The USDA Forest Service and Southern Group of State Forested created the
Southern Pine Beetle Prevention and Restoration Program in 2003 in order to restore
areas damaged by Southern pine beetles. (USDA Forest Service 2005) Along with
restoring habitats, they also implement prevention methods to minimize future Southern
pine beetle damage. (USDA Forest Service 2005) When restoring sites, less susceptible
pine species are planted, one of which being longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). (USDA
Forest Service 2005) Slash pine Pinus elliottii) is another species that is less susceptible
to Southern pine beetle attack. Prescribed burns are also a preventative measure that has
the ability to reduce competition in the understory and treat a large amount of acres at a
fairly low cost. (USDA Forest Service 2005) University of Florida (2000) found that over
a 30-year period, (1960-1990), $900 million worth of damages resulted as a result of
Southern pine beetles, making these types of methods extremely valuable in preventing
Southern pine beetle outbreaks.
Once an outbreak occurs, preventative methods will not work, but there are a
variety of different management strategies are available. One of the most commonly used
control method is to perform a salvage cut. (Maryland Department of Agriculture) The
salvage cut will remove all of the trees infested with Southern pine beetles and a 50-100
foot buffer of neighboring trees will also be removed. (Maryland Department of
Agriculture) The detection and cutting of trees while currently infested can help reduce
the chance of the population spreading. (Rutgers) Even with infestation and damage,
typically the cut trees can also be sold to a sawmill. (Rutgers) If for some reason, the
wood cannot be sold, it is recommended to remove to cut or chip the wood once the bark
is removed to kill all of the beetles living in the tree. (Rutgers) This method is often used
due to its ability to destroy each stage of life, and prevent the beetles from spreading to
other trees. (Rutgers) Other management techniques include funnel traps set in the early
spring, having been baited with frontalin, the pheromone produced by Southern pine
beetles, or suppression treatments such as cut and remove, cut and leave, cut and hand
spray, and pile and burn. (S.R. Clarke, J.T, Nowak 2009)
The challenges the Southern pine beetle brings to our forest habitats are
devastating. Though natural predators like the Coleoptera: claridae do exist, they are
limited by their own biology. With fewer generations, there are less of them (Coleoptera:
claridae), making the Southern pine beetle dominant. They flourish in stressful
conditions, which also gives them an advantage. The Southern pine beetle poses
devastating threats to the pine dominated forests in many states, and active management
methods need to be carried out to prevent further damage to our forested areas. The
outbreaks are claiming acres and acres of forests at increasing rates, and it is important
that management techniques are carried out during outbreaks to prevent further spread.
The knowledge of Southern pine beetles and their habits and threats is very useful, and
efforts should continue to learn more in controlling this pest species.
 References

Ayres, Matthew P., S.J. Martinson, N.A. Friedenberg. Southern Pine Beetle Ecology:
Population within Stands.
Booth, Donald C. Southern Pine Beetle Identification, Biology and Management. Bartlett
Tree Experts. Accessed on April 17, 2018 from
https://www.bartlett.com/resources/Southern-Pine-Beetle.pdf

Clarke, Stephen, R., J.T. Nowak. 2009. Southern Pine Beetle. U.S. Department of
Agriculture: Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 49. Accessed on April 17, 2018 from
https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/publications/spb_success_story.pdf

Maryland Department of Agriculture. Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis.

Accessed on April 17, 2018 from http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-
pests/Documents/southernpinebeetle.pdf

Powell, Ben. 2016. Identifying the Southern Pine Beetle. Clemson University. Accessed
on April 17, 2018 from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/publications/files/forestry-
wildlife/fw03-identifying-the-southern-pine-beetle.pdf

Rutgers. Southern Pine Beetle Kills New Jersey Pine Trees. Accessed on April 17, 2018
from http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/forest/docs/southern_pine_beetle_sm.pdf

U.S. Forest Service Department of Agriculture. 2005. Southern Pine Beetle Prevention
and Restoration Program. Accessed on April 17, 2018 from
https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/publications/spb_success_story.pdf