Lately, Midtown Sacramento, California USA is being inundated by pine bark beetles, however, these beetles are not only living in pine trees, but they are also living in our historic camphor trees, which are about 125 years old, 98 feet tall and three feet white. Sacramento, California is known as the city of trees, yet nothing is being done to protect out trees from this serial killer known as the pine bark beetle, which does not discriminate on which type of trees it likes to ravage, on its blood thirst for the bark and sap of our beloved trees. These pine beetles pose a significant risk to the tress as they will eat them from the inside out, causing them to become sick, dry out, die and maybe fall down in the winter from dry rot. It is not that the trees are old that causes them to fall over, it is because they are not properly maintained. These beetles will also eat at the root system of a tree, making it weak. Of these pests, the southern pine beetle, is characterized by a short, dark reddish brown winged body, they look like snake bugs and are the most serious threat to all of Sacramento, California’s trees.

 These beetles breed in all species of trees. Southern pine beetles will attack healthy trees and can kill several hundred acres, during a single outbreak. Affected trees are characterized by browned tree crowns and S-shaped galleries under the bark. Southern pine beetle infestation usually kills trees by attracting a blue stain fungus that weakens the connective tissue, of the tree, and renders it useless for cleaning the air or shade. Each year, southern pine beetles kill trees worth hundreds of millions of dollars; good forestry management practices are the best defense against all three varieties, as weak or damaged trees are always attractive hosts. Over 600 species occur in the United States and Canada with approximately 200 in California alone. The most common species infesting pines in urban landscapes and at the wild land-urban interface in California are the engraver beetles, the red turpentine beetle, and the western pine beetle. Because the beetles live in the protected habitat beneath the bark, it is difficult to control them with insecticides. If trees or shrubs are infested, prune and dispose of bark beetle-infested limbs. If the main trunk is extensively attacked by bark beetles, the entire tree or shrub should be removed.

 Unless infested trees are cut and infested materials are quickly removed, burned, or chipped on site, large numbers of beetles can emerge and kill nearby host trees, especially if live, unattacked trees nearby are weakened or stressed by other factors. Never pile infested material adjacent to a live tree or shrub. Avoid injuries to roots and trunks, damage and soil compaction during construction activities, and protect trees from sunburn (sunscald) and other abiotic disorders. Irrigation may be important during dry summer months in drought years, especially with tree species that are native to regions where summer rain is common. Also, dense stands of susceptible trees should be thinned (complete removal of some of the trees) to increase the remaining trees’ vigor and ability to withstand an attack. Sorry to say, but this California drought is causing some major and unexpected problems. The trees beetles like to strike when the air is hot and dry and water in the ground is low. Many Americans would like to thank Governor Jerry Brown for running the state of California. If you happen to see these tree beetles in your area, get a can of raid bug spray and take them out before they kill your precious trees, which are helping to keep moister in the ground and clean the air you breathe.