Southern pine beetles create S-shaped galleries in pine bark as they infest and kill trees/NPS
While parks are battling an aphid-like insect that is devastating Eastern hemlock stands, Fire Island National Seashore announced last week that cutting down infested trees has significantly diminished its population of invasive southern pine beetles, which can attack and kill pine trees in two to four months.
The New York park recently found fewer than 20 trees infested by the forest pest, down from more than 1,500 pines in 2014 and 2015.
“By felling infested trees now, we can help keep our forests healthy into the future,” Fire Island biologist Jordan Raphael said in a release.
When an infested tree is cut down during the winter, dormant southern pine beetle larvae are exposed to the elements. Cutting infested trees helps to reduce beetle habitat and increase mortality of larvae and adults. On Long Island and Fire Island, this suppression method has been shown to significantly slow the spread of the beetle.
“Collaboration with southern pine beetle experts and local land managers has proven to be extremely helpful,” Mr. Raphael said.
Southern pine beetle infestations were first discovered in 2014 at the William Floyd Estate, an area of the seashore located in Mastic Beach on Long Island. Since then, more than 1,000 acres of forest have been surveyed annually for signs of infestation, and more than 1,200 infested pine trees have been removed to help protect Seashore forests.
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