Tree care guide

Signs of Pine Beetles and When a Pine Must Come Down

How to spot bark beetles in Tuscaloosa pines, and why infested trees are usually removed quickly.

Updated November 1, 2026 · Tuscaloosa Tree Services

Short answer

Look for small, popcorn-like blobs of resin on the bark, reddish boring dust in bark cracks or at the base, and needles that fade from green to yellow, red and then brown. A pine with these signs is usually dying, and it can spread beetles to nearby pines, so it is normally removed promptly.

Which beetles attack pines here

Loblolly and other pines across Alabama can be attacked by several bark beetles, including the southern pine beetle, Ips engraver beetles and the black turpentine beetle. They are most likely to attack trees already stressed by drought, storm damage, lightning, root injury or construction near the roots.

Warning signs on the bark

Pitch tubes: small, crusty masses of resin where beetles bored in
Boring dust: reddish-brown sawdust in bark crevices or around the base
Small exit holes in the bark, like shotgun pellet holes
Winding tunnels under loose bark

Warning signs in the needles

Needles on an infested pine usually fade from green to yellow, then turn red and finally brown. Some beetles attack the top of the tree first, so the crown can brown from the top down. By the time the needles turn red, the tree is usually beyond saving.

Why infested pines are removed quickly

Beetles that finish developing in one tree fly to nearby pines. Removing infested trees promptly, and sometimes a buffer of nearby pines, is a common way to slow the spread. The Alabama Forestry Commission publishes guidance on pine beetles if you manage a wooded lot.

Dead pines near your house

A dead pine dries out and becomes brittle, and it can snap in the next windstorm. If a beetle-killed pine could reach your roof, driveway or a power line, treat it as a hazardous tree. See hazardous tree removal.

FAQ

Common questions

Can a pine with beetles be saved?

Usually not once beetles have attacked in numbers and the needles have started to change color. Keeping healthy pines watered during drought and avoiding root damage lowers the risk.

Should I cut nearby healthy pines too?

Sometimes a buffer is recommended for active southern pine beetle spots in wooded areas. Ask an arborist or the Alabama Forestry Commission before cutting healthy trees.

Related service

Dead and hazardous tree removal

How beetle-killed, dead and leaning trees are taken down safely near homes.

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