Symptoms - Holes In Bark; Bud and Twig Damage, Needles or Leaves Turn Yellow

Adult bark beetles are short-legged, stout and about 1/8 inch long. The young beetles are soft and yellow in color, but soon turn dull brown. These pests are especially dangerous after a prolonged drought.

Beetles of an over-wintering brood attack trees in the spring, starting at mid-trunk, working both up and down. Opportunists, they are attracted to trees already weakened by injury or other stress. Their larvae, or grubs, bore through the outer bark and excavate S-shaped tunnels in the sapwood.

Emerging adult beetles leave tiny telltale holes in the bark. Affected trees show yellowish-green foliage from 10 to 14 days after an attack. By the time the top of the tree turns reddish the beetles have usually left, except in the winter months.

No effective controls are available. Keep trees in vigorous health by proper feeding and watering. Cut down and destroy severely infested trees.