Mountain Pine Beetle Photo ID

Mountain Pine Beetle attack mostly Lodgepole Pine, the predominent species in much of Summit County and the High Country.

Affected trees may not show the red foliage until the beetles emerge and have allready attacked other trees in your yard.  Therefore, you must identify the beetles by looking for signs of attack in the bark.

The sawdust encrusted sap coming from the bark is a telltale sign of Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.  There should be visible pitch tubes every six to eight inches over the lower trunk of the tree for the beetles to be successful.

This tree was fairly healthy when hit, as the pitch tubes have oozed sap from the hole.  Sometimes they will not be as prominent, and the bark must be scraped to look for the beetle galleries.