One of these is the Ips or engraver beetle. Some of these beetles are present every year in cut branches, logs, or in weakened or dying pines. In other years, populations will increase due to weather conditions such as hurricane, ice, or hail damaged trees and, as populations increase, the incidence of damage to apparently healthy trees will increase.
Damage is also greater following logging, fires, and, particularly, abnormally dry weather .
Dry conditions will result in the death of single trees as well as groups of trees as they come under attack by the expanding Ips populations. Back edge of Ips beetle showing projections. Ips Beetle Description . The insects range in size from c to 3 of an inch and are reddish brown in color. Size may dictate where the different species will be found within an infested tree.