• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world

 

Friday, May 25, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

MNN.COM›

Eco-Glossary

Pine Beetles

 
Pine beetles are a species of bark beetles that infest and kill trees throughout North America.
 
The pine beetle, also known as Dendroctonus ponderosae or mountain pine beetle, typically measure about 5 millimeters, or about the size of a piece of rice. They have a hard black exoskeleton and have a lifespan of about one year.
 

Read more about 'pine beetles'

 
Pine beetles bore their way through the hard exterior of a tree into the innermost layer of the bark called the phloem. The phloem is a crucial component of the tree because it carries water and nutrients to all parts of the plant.
 
Once the beetle has made its way inside, it lays eggs in the phloem.  After the eggs hatch, the larvae remain under the bark feeding on the phloem.
 
In response, the tree will attempt to drown the beetles by increasing the production of sap. To block the tree’s sap production, the larvae release a fungus called ‘blue stain fungi.’ In addition to keeping the larvae safe from the sap, the fungus also stains the tree blue.
 
After about two weeks of infestation by pine beetles, a tree usually dies from the damage to the phloem.  
 
The larvae spend the winter inside the bark and transform into pupae in late spring. Once they grow into adults, the pine beetles emerge from the infested tree over the course of the summer and early fall.
 
They can be found mostly in western North America from Mexico to British Columbia. The pine beetles have been known to attack ponderosa, lodgepole, Scotch and limber pine trees.
 
Several forests through North America have experienced severe pine beetle outbreaks in recent years. Large swaths of trees in British Columbia, Alberta and Colorado have been hit hard with pine beetle infestations since 2006.
 
Sources:
• “Mountain Pine Beetle” via Colorado State University Extension
• “Beetle Facts” via British Columbia Ministry of Forest, Mines and Lands
• “Bark Beetles Kill Millions of Acres of Trees in West” via New York Times
 
(Text by Steve Pollak)
(Photo: Wikipedia)

Articles about Pine Beetles


Are grizzly bears becoming unbearable?

Mon, Jul 25 2011 at 11:05 AM EST
U.S. grizzlies are finally bouncing back, but many are once again testing their rocky relationship with people.
 

Wyoming governor delivers final message to Washington

Thu, Nov 18 2010 at 11:38 AM EST
In his last scheduled trip to the nation's capital as governor, Dave Freudenthal has some frank discussions with policy makers — and this MNN blogger.
 

Daily Briefing: Mon.

Mon, Nov 08 2010 at 10:14 AM EST
Grizzlies becoming unbearable, oil kills Gulf coral, GOP sparks power struggle, and more.
 

Grizzly bear numbers hit new high in Yellowstone region

Wed, Oct 27 2010 at 9:15 PM EST
Scientists announced Wednesday that at least 603 grizzlies now roam the Yellowstone area of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
 

Invasive species and climate change a 'deadly duo'

Fri, Oct 22 2010 at 3:25 AM EST
A new report says a warmer world will give some species an edge, devastating ecosystems at sea and on land.
 

Playing with fire and politics in Colorado

Thu, Sep 16 2010 at 9:04 AM EST
When disaster strikes, politicians pounce. And sometimes miss.
 

Colorado burns. Washington watches.

Thu, Sep 09 2010 at 8:10 PM EST
Washington has had plenty of chances to do something about the pine beetle problem but has chosen to do nothing.
 

Watch out for Yellowstone Park bears — they're hungry

Sun, Aug 22 2010 at 9:31 PM EST
Scientists report that a favorite food of many bears, nuts from whitebark pine cones, is scarce this year.
 

Assignment Earth: Beetles destroy pines in the Rockies

Thu, May 06 2010 at 5:32 PM EST
Video: Beetles are killing countless whitebark pine trees, a major source of food for wildlife, including grizzly bears.
 

Bark beetles' own bug songs drive them crazy

Tue, Feb 09 2010 at 11:29 PM EST
Bark beetles that are ravaging Arizona's forests can be deterred by their own 'music,' according to new research.
 
  • 1
  • 2
  • >>
  • >|

    Editor's Picks

  • 1. Solar Storm
  • 2. Recipes
  • 3. Earthquake News
  • 4. Tornado
  • 5. Chevy Volt
  • 6. Wind Power
  • 7. Green Cleaning
  • 8. Green Technology
  • 9. Apple
  • 10. Global Warming

EDITORS' PICKS

tease to asteroids

tease to pet facials

tease to emotional eating

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered

CONNECT WITH MNN

Follow @twitterapi
 Tumblr
 Google +
 


Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports

Follow MNN

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Google+
  • StumbleUpon
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS