Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-03
THE PINE BARK BEETLE
Which Threatens Destruction to Pine
Forest Growth of South Carolina.

fOFeSt STOWtn OF Ooutn SdTOllnd.
The pine forests of South Carolina
constitute its principal forest wealth.
The part played by the pine in furnish
ing timber for building and export,
and for the various uses Of the farm Is
hard to estimate at it's correct value.
Deprived Of it the state would be poor
er by millions of dollars.
The tree is so rapid a grower and
re- forests denuded land in such a short
time, thus often preventing wide
spread destruction by erosion of soil
that we have come to regard it as per-
manent, something always to be relied
on. True, once in a while the round
head and fiathead borers will get into
tree which has been wounded by cut
ing trees over a considerable area But
the woodpeckers invariably round up
these pests in little while and pre-
vent further spread.
The pine Is now attacked by an enc
my Of far different class, which fore
BODIES it's entire destruction, unless en-
ergetic measures are instituted to
check it. This is the pine bark beetle
or southern pine beetle Dendroctonus
frontalis), whose ravages in Virginia
and West Virginia called forth all the
energies Of those states, aided by the
bureau Of entomology. to save the pine
forests. AS it was, immense tracts were
ruined, even the saplings being de-
stroyed and the growth wiped out.
For some time 1 have been noting
the continued dispersion Of this in
sect, having first seen it between Whit
mire and Carlisle in 1907. The infor-
nation obtained was not altogether
satisfactory, the trouble arising from
the fact that / did not properly differ
entiate the species and the bureau had
difficulty in understanding my in
quiries. Having this on my list, when
l reached Washington l went to DR.. L.
o. Howard at once, stated the case
and he carried me to DR.. A. d. Hopkins
who has charge Of investigating in
sect enemies of forests.
The news was alarming and the Sc
rious nature of the case brought DIR.
Hopkins to the fore instantly.
IF you have that insect domiciled
with you, you have the most serious of
known pests to contend with. The pink
bark beetle is more dangerous than all
other insects combined. He will de-
stroy your entire pine forests; the
pine will be lost to South Carolina for
an indefinite period, young growth will
go with old growth. You have no time
to lose."
Fortunately" said DR.. Hopkins,
the danger may be averted. The in
sect can be controlled and energetic
measures will show results in all
cases."
DR.. Hopkins searched the archives
and got the sole remaining bulletin for
use, describing the pine bark beetle
and it's correct handling to avoid loss.
The Insect Described.
In the bulletin Of the bureau the pine
bark beetle Is thus described:
The southern pine beetle Is slen-
der, cylindrical, brownish- to- black
beetle, % to 4.2mm. in length; the head
is broad with median elevations each
side distinct frontal groove; the
prothoraX Is punctured and but slight
ly narrowed toward the head; the
elytra (wing-cases) have moderately
coarse rugosites between the indis-
tinct rows or punctures, and the de-
%.
1t attacks healthy, injured and felled
trees, Of all of the pines and spruces,
from southern Pennsylvania south
ward into Florida and westward into
eastern Texas and Arkansas. 1t exca-
Yates long, winding egg galleries
through the inner bark and marks, but
does not groove, he surface of the
wood. The whitish, legless larvae ex-
cavate short, broad larval mines at
more or less irregular intervals, at
right angles long the sides Of the egg,
usually, but not always, exposed in the
inner bark. The transformation to
pupae and adults takes place in the
outer, cork bark. The presence Of the
species is indicated by pitch tubes on
the main trunk of living trees and by
the trees die from it's attack. 1t Is
very destructive enemy of southern
and southeastern pines"
A millimetre is one-twenty-fift of
an inch hence the insect measures
one-twelfth to one-sixth of an inch,
in round numbers, so to speak and in
size resembles the little "fire-gnats"
that once in while get into the eyes
on summer afternoons and cause a
small riot. They are coffee-colored
to chocolate.
The holes in the bark resemble
small shot holes. Whenever the pine
needles begin to turn yellow and small
Jumps of pitch are seen on the outer
bark, that Is sufficient evidence to in
dicate the work of the beetle and the
tree should come down at once.
Dead Trees No Menace.
1t must be borne in mind that the
cutting Of dead trees Is useless, since
the beetles have come out and will not
re-enter a dead tree. 1t Is the living
tree that is a menace. That should be
cut down and used for wood or lum-
ber at once, all the bark being carried
away with It, Especially should all
such trees come down during Decem-
Der.
The beetles lay their eggs late in
April or early in May and these eggs
hatch in few days and the work of
ruin begins. In the latitude Of Wash
ington three broods hatch out in
year; in this latitude many more, the
generations not being known exactly.
Every farmer and lumberman in
the state should go over his pines
with care and look out for the yellow
ish leaves. which are distinctly visi-
BILE at a distance.
When the pitch tubes are seen on
the outer bark, a removal Of the bark
will show the scroll-like windings Of
the egg galleries, with now and then
larger marks. where the roundhead
or fathead borers have been mining
also.
This is certainly fair warning, and
l have been at both pains and expense
to get at the facts for the benefit of our
citizens. In North Carolina already
the ravages of tho pest are considera-
BILE and menacing, despite much hard
work in suppressing them, for work
was put off too long.
The insect may be suppressed, If
taken in time but II allowed to be-
come firmly planted, ruin of pines
over large areas Is sure to follow.
This will include saw-logs, box timber
and even small saplings.
Deforested areas, owing to the con-
tinued presence of the pest, may re-
main for a generation without pines.
James Henry Rice, Jr.