TAEX file photo. These beetles produce superficially similar symptoms to those caused by southern pine beetles on the trunk, but may not result in rapid decline and death of infested trees. The gallery patterns of these beetles are not S-shaped patterns. Adults hatch within 17 days. A generation from egg to adult can be completed in 26 to 54 days.
Mouthparts are for chewing.
Southern pine beetles attack mainly densely stocked, slow growing pine stands with a high percentage of over-mature pine saw timber. Some pine tree species are more susceptible than others. Trees damaged by lightning and other natural events or by nearby construction are more likely to be infested. Beetles disperse in the fall and develop in scattered host trees. From March through May, beetles emerge and colonize new host trees.