UPDATE: SPB are uncommon but native to Florida. A small number of SPB is normal and doesn’t usually lead to infestations. Only one SPB infestation has been located in north-central Florida this year. Officials continue to monitor the 352 area closely, but there has been no indication of other infestations.
ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – This season, north and north-central Floridians should be on the lookout for strange tunnels and resin tubes on local pine trees. They may be the mark of the formidable southern pine beetle.
What are southern pine beetles, and why are they so detrimental?
The southern pine beetle (SPB) is a native Florida scavenger insect which normally feasts on dead and dying pine trees. However, under certain conditions, SPB can quickly multiply and spread to healthy trees too. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), an infestation of these beetles can kill a healthy tree in just one day.
These pests don’t discriminate. They can destroy pines in forests, plantations and residential areas alike. Small infestations can spread by more than 50 feet a day.
Historically, SPB outbreaks have not been common in Florida, and they’re Florida’s rarest type of pine beetle. In 2023, most counties in the northern half of Florida have a small chance of fostering more than 50 SPB spots. Alachua, Marion and other surrounding counties have a higher probability of developing SPB spots this year: up to a 20 percent chance.
Since these beetles are native to Florida, though, catching a few is not necessarily a sign of an infestation. According to the Florida Forest Service (FFS), only one infestation has been found in the 352 area: San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park in Alachua County.
An annual pheromone trapping survey conducted by the FFS earlier this year predicted continued more small spots in the area throughout summer and fall in 2023. During the survey, traps in Alachua County captured an average of nine SPB every day. According to the FDACS, numbers like this usually precede an increase in SPB infestations. Officials are continuing to patrol the area, but no signs of other SPB outbreaks have been identified yet.
How can SPB infestations be identified and prevented?
SPB are only about the size of a grain of rice, so they are more easily identified by the damage they do.
When SPB colonize a tree, they create tiny tunnels under the bark. They also infuse the wood with a blue-stain fungus that inhibits the tree’s ability to absorb water. Infected trees may secrete resin in a defensive formation called a “pitch tube.” The top layer of pine needles may also turn brown or orange.
SPB infestations move quickly. That’s why it’s important for landowners to take precautions.
Poor maintenance can lead to SPB attacks. Trees need plenty of room to grow healthily; this means clearing out competing vegetation and old or injured pines. Planting diverse, native trees is also helpful as long as they are appropriate for the site. Certain pines are more susceptible to SPB.
Any landowners who suspect SPB infestations should contact their local forestry office. Learn more at FDACS.gov.