League City warns of pine bark beetles

Pine trees in League City are falling victim to pine bark beetles.

The wood-boring pests feed on pine trees. They burrow under bark, lay eggs, and their larvae exit by leaving holes in the tree.

The damage sometimes leads to secondary invasions in a tree by fungus and carpenter ants. Trees that have had pine bark beetles often decline over several months and then die.

Pine trees become more susceptible to the pests when they are stressed. Hurricane Ike, last year’s snow, and this past summer’s drought have overwhelmed many pines, League City spokeswoman Kristi Wyatt says.

“We haven’t had an outbreak of pine beetles, but there have been some instances,” Wyatt says. “We just want people to be aware because there’s nothing you can do once they attack your trees. We want people to make sure they’re taking good care of their trees and that they’re watching for any signs.”

An invasion of pine bark beetles can be spotted by pinhead-sized holes in the trunk of the tree, visible red sawdust, yellowing of needles, and the gradual browning of needles. There is no treatment for prevention other than trying to keep a tree healthy.

That can be done through regular fertilization, an application of compost, and adequate water during drought periods. Because beetles spread from tree-to-tree, an infested tree should be removed as soon as possible.

Wyatt said the wood should be hauled away and/or burned to destroy beetles and larvae. Under city ordinance, trees that are 19 inches and larger in diameter require a city permit to be removed. Trees located on commercial and/or homeowners association-owned areas may also require a permit for removal.

For permit requirements and additional information about pine bark beetles, residents should call City Arborist Heather McKnight at 281-554-1441.

Some more about pine bark beetles:

• How to prevent infestation [1] from Texas A&M.

• How to control pine bark beetles [2] from Texas A&M.

• What damage from pine bark beetles looks like [3] from HoustonGrows.com's Lazy Gardener.

• Can I use needles from infected pine as mulch? [4] from HoustonGrows.com's Kathy Huber.

• Hundreds of trees in The Woodlands fall to pine bark beetles [5] from the Houston Chronicle.