There are various different species of pine trees in New Mexico, and if you live there, you are highly likely to have at least one of those somewhere near your home, or even in your own backyard.
While you may not be able to tell them apart and determine the species, there is no doubt that you will enjoy the beauty that it adds to the scenery. Not to mention the shade it can provide you with. Yet, some of those pines seem to be victims of serious infestations, and you can learn more about that on this page.
You must have already heard about the bark beetles that are killing pine trees in New Mexico, and that has probably gotten you worried. Is the tree in your backyard, or in any other location that you’re fond of, going to die as well? And, is there anything that you can do to prevent that?
Furthermore, if you are not an arborist and a professional in this field, you may also be wondering what bark beetles are, and why they are killing those pine trees in your area. Those are, without a doubt, all some rather significant questions. If you really want to hear the answers, then you should simply read on, because I’ll shed some light on why this is going on and what you can do about it.
What Are Bark Beetles?
Let us begin with the most basic question here, because you need to get acquainted with this insect, in order to understand why it is attacking those pines in New Mexico. Basically, a bark beetle is any beetle from the Scolytidae family that tunnels under the bark of a tree, consequently cutting off its supply of water and food.
And, naturally, you already know that pines need water and food to survive, which is why I’m sure you understand the danger that these beetles pose to pines.
You can get better acquainted with the danger here: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/bark-beetle-infestations-could-cause-huge-pi-on-die-off/article_1fcb4242-a3b3-11ec-92c7-af38d3d23944.html
If it is still not clear to you just how dangerous this beetle can be, let me give you another piece of data. Bark beetles can actually kill a tree in less than a month. Of course, they tend to go after weak trees, and the danger is highest during those warm summer months. While many of these insects attack trees that are already dying, we cannot deny the fact that some tend to go after the perfectly healthy ones as well.
Why Are They Killing Pines in New Mexico?
Now that you have an idea as to what bark beetles actually do and how they can be dangerous for those pine trees, you are wondering what it is that’s making them kill those trees in New Mexico. Well, in normal conditions, these insects are actually important for the ecosystem, because they prevent overcrowding in the forests. Their job is to kill off those dying trees.
The weather definitely has a huge impact on the activities of these insects. While they are now also capable of surviving during the winter, which brings to a sort of a population boom in the beetle world, the truth is that these insects thrive during warm weather. As well all know, New Mexico tends to get really hot, and droughts can weaken the trees, making them the perfect target for these insects.
What To Do About It?
The reasons why these beetles are killing pines in New Mexico are now clear, but there’s still one question you want to have answered. Is there anything you can do to stop this? Well, what you could do is invest a bit in preventative tree care and let professionals make sure that your pines are staying strong even during those hot months. As you can see, I said that you should let professionals do this, so let me explain.
You may be tempted to try and care for the pines alone, but you are highly unlikely to succeed if you don’t really have enough knowledge of it. Certified arborists and tree care professionals, on the other hand, will know exactly how to prevent your pines from falling victim to bark beetles.
So, if you want to be sure that you’re doing everything in your power to save trees, you should hire these professionals.