Summer brings not only the heat but also swarms of insects that know how to ruin a lazy day on the lake and your trees. In this blog, you’ll learn how to recognize the differences between Mountain Pine Beetles and Ips Beetles and how ArborScape’s Tree Spraying can help you manage these pests.
Mountain Pine Beetles
Mountain pine beetles and Ips beetles look very similar in appearance, ranging in color from reddish brown to black, and spanning from ⅛ of an inch to ⅜ of an inch long. Both species may be small, but are capable of a lot of damage.
An important update about the Mountain Ash Pine Beetle is that it’s made its way into Morrison by route of the i-285. Mountain pine beetles are one of the most dangerous pests to pine trees- which make up a vast majority of Colorado forests.
While both Ips and mountain pine beetles both enjoy infesting many trees, mountain pines are especially attracted to pine trees. These beetles are native Colorado insect that likes to lay eggs beneath tree bark, especially pine trees.
When the larvae hatch, they eat through the bark and begin to introduce a blue fungus into the sapwood. This fungus prevents the tree from absorbing water and nutrients from the soil, leaving it in a stressed state and therefore vulnerable to other insects and diseases.
If you keep a close watch on the leaves and trunk of the tree, you’ll be able to recognize the symptoms these beetles leave behind.
The needles of infected pines will turn a rusty color and eventually fall during the second season of infestation (don’t mistake this for natural needle drop).
Similar to the Ips beetle, this pest leaves boring dust in bark crevices. However, because of the fungus, popcorn-shaped masses of resin can be seen on the tree trunk where the tunneling begins.
IPS Beetles
Ips beetles do things a little differently. Known as “pine engravers” or “bark beetles”, these insects feed on the phloem of trees.
With 11 different types of Ips beetle species in Colorado, these insects have been a huge issue due to our dry and arid climate. They love to get cozy in drought-stressed pine or spruce trees or even recently cut logs and wooden debris.
You have to be especially careful with this beetle because they can kill a tree in a single season by “engraving” a pathway gallery under the bark.
As we mentioned, similar to the mountain pine beetle, these insects leave boring dust in crevices or around the base of the tree.
However, you’ll also start to notice that affected parts of the tree will become discolored, and there will be small round holes where the beetles enter or exit the trunk. Even the presence of woodpeckers can indicate an infestation, as these birds are natural predators to these beetles and will be more attracted to the tree than usual.
Now is the best time to watch out for these pests, as they tend to fly around seeking out new hosts of trees in July and August. This means it’s also the best time to get on our treatment plan to manage any potential issues.
If you’re worried about your pines or any other trees, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our arborists will visit your property for a free consultation to determine what issues your trees may have and the best treatment method.
If our arborists find these pine beetles, we’ll get you on a treatment plan asap. We provide tree spraying services as a form of insect control to keep your trees safe and healthy all year round.
How to Treat Pine Beetles
We have a general insect spray that takes care of a wide variety of pests, as well as Ips beetle treatments done in the spring and summer. The first spring treatment is to mitigate the first generation of pine beetles before they can do too much damage to your pines and spruces.
The second treatment in late-summer is to ensure the possibility of a second generation doesn’t spread.
Our tree spraying treatments contain chemicals with a strong bonding agent that lasts around six months after the initial application. Once our sprays adhere to the tree, it only takes about 30 minutes to dry and can only photodegrade due to the sun.
So, even if it rains an hour after the application, the treatment will still work.
Get ahead of the game! We’re already starting our summer round of Ips beetle treatments, so if you’re concerned about your pines, give us a call at (303) 806-8733 or fill out a form to request a free estimate from our certified arborists.
