Southern Pine Beetle Devastating Trees in Dorchester County; Contact MDA Forest Pest Management if Experiencing Tree Damage

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 19, 2015) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) today announced that trees in southern Dorchester County are currently under the attack or at risk of attack by the Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis. MDA’s Forest Pest Management, Eastern Shore Office in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service’s Dorchester County Forester have identified 115 acres of trees that have recently been killed by the Southern Pine Beetle (SPB).  Fifteen of these acres went from green asymptomatic trees to dead in the last four weeks. This is an active and growing beetle population moving to the north and west.  Click here for a map of the affected area.

“While the Southern Pine Beetle is a native pest, conditions have been favorable to the insect and the beetle numbers and destruction they have caused are resulting in outbreak conditions in Dorchester County,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “We want people to be aware of the situation and call us if they suspect beetle damage. Our MDA Forest Pest Management staff are available for site visits to identify and confirm the beetle.”

The SPB is one of the most destructive insect pests of pines in our area, most commonly found on the lower Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland. SPB is a native pest and generally is seen in low numbers. However, when trees are stressed due to weather conditions, SPB can take a hold and kill healthy trees. This beetle is roughly the size of a grain of rice and is red-brown to black in color. The SPB attacks loblolly pine and occasionally Virginia pine. Adult beetles will travel approximately 0.4 miles, however, they have the ability to disperse up to 2 miles.

Infested tree’s needles will turn yellow two weeks following a SPB attack, and then turn red to brown within a month. Signs of attack from SPB include: “popcorn” like pitch tubes covering the outer bark, S-shaped galleries underneath the bark, and the presence of blue stain fungi.

Treatment options to prevent the further spread of this pest include a salvage cut, cut-and-leave, pile and burn, and cut and chemically treat. All infested trees should be cut as well as a 50-100 foot buffer of healthy trees. Trees should be cut toward the center of the infestation to help disrupt the beetle’s pheromones. If trees remain untreated the SPB will move to adjacent forests. Once this outbreak is under control, actively managing a forest to maintain healthy trees is the best way to prevent further attacks. Click here for more information on control measures.

Since 1989, Maryland has participated in a SPB survey throughout the southern United States using pheromone-baited traps. Populations have been below outbreak level since 1994. Additional information is available in MDA’s SPB fact sheet or on the Department of Natural Resources SPB webpage.

Please contact Eastern Shore Regional FPM Entomologist, Heather Disque at 410-822-8234, or Dorchester County Forester, Scott Daniels at 410-228-1861 with questions or concerns.

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Photos courtesy of USDA Forest Service