Even if it’s the hardwoods that get the bulk of the attention, pines are undeniably important components of the Metro Atlanta tree canopy. In fact, because they’re fast-growing pioneers that often colonize disturbed areas, they essentially set the stage for the forest that’ll follow over the next few decades.
And like most other trees, pines have their share of pests and pathogens that occasionally cause problems. One of the biggest threats they face is tiny bark-boring beetles, which are smaller than a single grain of rice. Known as southern pine beetles, these destructive insects can quickly kill even healthy pines.
Fortunately, there are things Atlanta homeowners and property managers can do to protect their trees. We’ll explain everything you need to know about southern pine beetles and share the steps you can take below.
The Southern Pine Beetle Basics
We’ll share some basic facts about the southern pine beetle below to help you understand the nature of the threat they pose.
Basic Biology of the Southern Pine Beetle
Southern pine beetles (Dendroctonus frontalis) are small, dark-colored insects that are about 3 millimeters long. Their primary food source is the phloem — an important layer of vascular tissue that helps trees transport nutrients from the leaves to the roots — of pine trees.
As they feed, they cause damage to the vascular system of the tree, which leads to wilting, foliar discoloration, crown decline, and ultimately, death. The beetles are also associated with a symbiotic blue-stain fungus, which causes additional damage to the tree’s vascular system.
Importantly, and unlike some other pine beetles, southern pine beetles tend to attack pines in great numbers. This overwhelms the host tree’s defenses, allowing the beetles to survive and reproduce.
Lifecycle of the Southern Pine Beetle
Once they’ve found a suitable host tree, southern pine beetles tunnel through the bark, creating winding, S-shaped galleries along the way. Once inside the tree, they emit a pheromone that attracts other southern pine beetles.
Female beetles will deposit small, white eggs in these galleries, which will hatch into grub-like larvae a short while later. Like the adults, the larvae also feed on the tree’s phloem. Eventually, the larvae pupate and emerge as adults in the following weeks.
The new generation of adults then tunnel out of the bark, find their own host trees, and begin the cycle all over again.
Preferred Hosts of the Southern Pine Beetle
Southern pine beetles can attack nearly every pine species found in Georgia, but they tend to prefer some species more than others.
The most susceptible pines in the Metro Atlanta area include:
- Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda): By far the most common native pine in the metro area, loblolly pines account for many — if not most — residential infestations.
- Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata): Although less common in suburban landscapes than loblolly pine, shortleaf pines can be heavily affected during outbreaks.
- Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana): Most common on rocky ridges and natural areas in Metro Atlanta, the Virginia pine is also highly susceptible to southern pine beetle attacks.
Other pines native to Georgia — including the eastern white (Pinus strobus), slash (Pinus elliottii), and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) — are also vulnerable, but these species are typically regarded as less susceptible to the southern pine beetle.
Symptoms of Southern Pine Beetle Infestations
Southern pine beetles attack, spread, and kill pines quickly, making early detection crucial. Unfortunately, by the time many homeowners notice a tree declining, the beetles have often completed their development and moved on to attack nearby pines.
Accordingly, homeowners and property managers should watch for the common signs of infestations, including:
- Pitch Tubes: Pitch tubes are small, popcorn-sized masses of resin produced by pines in response to beetle infestations. Typically white, cream-colored, or reddish-brown, they’re commonly seen around the trunks of pines under attack.
- Boring Dust: Southern pine beetles often produce reddish-brown sawdust that collects in bark crevices, around the base of the trunk, on spider webs, or on nearby vegetation. The beetles create this material while excavating galleries beneath the bark.
- Fading Needles: As pines suffer from southern pine beetle infestations, their needles gradually change from green to yellow, then reddish-brown before eventually falling off the tree. By the time the entire crown has turned brown, the damage has already been done.
- Woodpecker Activity: An increase in woodpecker activity around your pines may indicate southern pine beetles are beneath the bark. You can also look for patches of missing bark or lighter-colored areas on the trunk where birds have searched for developing larvae.
- S-Shaped Galleries Beneath the Bark: If you remove some loose bark from a stressed or recently killed tree, you may notice distinctive winding, S-shaped galleries etched into the inner bark. These galleries are created by the beetles as they feed and deposit eggs.
Protecting Your Trees from Southern Pine Beetles
Because southern pine beetles can kill pines so quickly, preventative treatment strategies are often preferred. Once beetles have successfully colonized a tree, treatment options become much more limited.
So, employ the following strategies to give your trees the best chance of avoiding infestations:
- Keep Your Trees Healthy: Water pines during prolonged drought, especially newly planted trees and those growing in compacted or disturbed soils. Avoid unnecessary trunk wounds and protect root systems from excavation, soil compaction, and grade changes.
- Monitor Susceptible Pines: Regularly inspect loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pines for pitch tubes, boring dust, fading needles, and other signs of bark beetle activity. While it’s hard to save a tree from an active infestation, prompt detection may help you protect nearby trees.
- Remove Infested Trees Promptly: Trees with active southern pine beetle infestations typically cannot be saved. Removing affected trees before the next generation of beetles emerges can help reduce the risk of the infestation spreading to neighboring trees.
- Manage Storm-Damaged Trees: Lightning strikes, broken tops, and other serious injuries can attract bark beetles. So, you’ll want to have damaged pines evaluated promptly by an ISA-certified arborist to determine whether pruning or removal is appropriate.
- Consider Preventative Treatments: High-value pines that are at elevated risk — such as trees growing near actively infested trees — may benefit from preventative trunk sprays using products labeled for southern pine beetles.
No preventive measure is guaranteed to stop southern pine beetles during a severe outbreak. However, good tree care, regular inspections, and quick action when infestations are detected can significantly reduce the risk of losing additional trees.
Southern Pine Beetles in Atlanta: FAQ
Given the threat southern pine beetles pose to Atlanta-area pines, it’s natural for homeowners and property managers to have questions about protecting their trees. Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most often.
Can a pine tree survive a southern pine beetle infestation?
Unfortunately, it’s usually not possible to save trees with established southern pine beetle infestations. Once beetles have successfully colonized the tree and begun reproducing beneath the bark, they’ve already disrupted the tissues responsible for transporting water and nutrients.
Do southern pine beetles only attack dead or dying trees?
No. Unlike many other bark beetles, southern pine beetles can attack healthy, vigorous pine trees — especially during outbreaks when beetle populations are high. However, trees weakened by drought, lightning, construction damage, or other stressors are generally the most vulnerable.
Are southern pine beetles dangerous to people or pets?
No. Southern pine beetles do not bite people or pets, spread disease, or infest homes. Their impact is limited to pine trees.
Will southern pine beetles spread to my hardwood trees?
No. Southern pine beetles attack pine trees and do not infest hardwoods such as oaks, maples, sweetgums, or dogwoods. They rarely even attack other conifers.
Can insecticides prevent southern pine beetle attacks?
Preventative insecticide treatments can help protect high-value pines in some situations, but these treatments must be applied before beetles attack. They are generally not effective once a tree has been colonized.
Should I remove a pine tree as soon as it becomes infested?
Yes, in most cases. Promptly removing an actively infested pine can help reduce the number of beetles available to attack nearby trees.
How can I tell whether I have southern pine beetles or another bark beetle?
Southern pine beetles produce small, popcorn-sized pitch tubes scattered along the trunk and create distinctive S-shaped galleries beneath the bark.
Protect Your Pines Before Beetles Strike
Southern pine beetles can kill mature pines in a matter of weeks, leading to hazardous trees and costly removals. But our ISA-certified arborists can help. They’ll be happy to evaluate your trees and recommend the most appropriate course of action.
Contact us today so that we can protect your Metro Atlanta pines before a small problem becomes a larger one.
Sources and References
- Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (ISA) – “Southern Pine Beetles in Urban and Suburban Landscapes”
Peer-reviewed study examining southern pine beetle infestations in urban and suburban landscapes, including host susceptibility, patterns of attack, and implications for protecting high-value landscape pines.
https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/13/6/145 - USDA Forest Service – “Southern Pine Beetle” (Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 49)
Federal leaflet covering the biology, identification, host damage, and management of Dendroctonus frontalis across its southern range.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/foresthealth/docs/fidls/FIDL-49-SouthernPineBeetle.pdf - University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources – “Southern Pine Beetle Outbreaks in Georgia”
News coverage of recent southern pine beetle outbreak activity and its impact on Georgia’s pine stands.
https://warnell.uga.edu/news/stories/2024/southern-pine-beetle-outbreaks-georgia - University of Georgia Extension – “Protecting Your Landscape: What You Need to Know About Southern Pine Beetles”
Extension guidance for homeowners on recognizing southern pine beetle infestation and protecting landscape pines.
https://site.extension.uga.edu/paulding/2025/08/protecting-your-landscape-what-you-need-to-know-about-southern-pine-beetles/ - Georgia Forestry Commission – “Southern Pine Beetle Factsheet”
State forestry agency factsheet on southern pine beetle identification, life cycle, and control recommendations for Georgia landowners.
https://gatrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SPBFactsheet.pdf
