Serious question, has anyone else seen this new bark beetle around the Twin Cities?

I was doing a removal on a client's ash in Minneapolis last week and found a bunch of tiny holes I didn't recognize. Called a buddy at the extension office, and he confirmed it's a new invasive species that hitched a ride on some imported lumber about three years ago. He said they're moving fast and can kill a mature pine in under a month. I've already spotted signs in three different yards this spring. What are you guys using for treatment, or is removal the only safe bet right now?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora862mo ago

Well, my strategy of ignoring problems until they go away isn't working so hot here. Tried that with a squeaky truck door for two years, and now the whole thing sounds like a haunted house on wheels. Probably shouldn't apply the same logic to beetles eating all the trees.

tessa_kim314d ago

Jumping in to say @lily_gonzalez68 is right about removal being the safest bet for now. But I have to gently push back on the systemic insecticide idea - those aren't really a last ditch thing for pines with this beetle because by the time you see the damage, the tree's vascular system is already trashed. The extension guy I talked to said you'd need to start treatment before any signs show up, and even then it's not guaranteed. Real bummer, but I've already had to pull three pines this month in St. Paul alone.

lily_gonzalez682mo ago

Oh man, that's not good to hear. I mean, if they're moving that fast, it sounds like removal is the only sure thing to stop it from spreading to other trees nearby. Maybe a systemic insecticide could work as a last ditch effort on a really valuable tree, but idk if it's worth the risk.