SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2013

Media Contact: Marcus Warnke, 605.394.2395

Pine Engraver Beetle Flying Soon

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Along with the mountain pine beetle, the pine engraver beetle or ips is another threat to the pine forests in the Black Hills and surrounding forests.

“This is another native bark beetle, but it usually only attacks recently dead trees or branches in the tops of dying or hail-damaged trees,” says Ray Sowers, State Forester.

The pine engraver beetle generally begins flying in mid-April to May depending on location, usually starting first at lower elevations in the southern Black Hills. The pine engraver beetle can become a tree-killer during periods of drought which weakens tree’s defenses.

“When the annual growing season precipitation is less than 75 percent normal, which occurred last year, pines are vulnerable to attack by this beetle as well as the mountain pine beetle,” remarked Sowers. 

The pine engraver beetle is an adult at this time, either beneath the bark of dead trees and logging slash or in the duff on the forest floor. The adults will be flying soon and many people are spraying their high-value pines to prevent attacks from this insect as well as the mountain pine beetle which generally does not fly until July.

One application of an insecticide labeled for bark beetle control applied at the proper rate will be sufficient to protect pine trees from both bark beetles. 

“There is still plenty of time to consider spraying to protect from the pine engraver beetle,” says Sowers. “This beetle begins flying when we have daytime temperatures in the 60’s. We are still experiencing cold weather so we are probably several weeks or more away from the pine engraver beetle flying.”

Spray companies need warm weather so the tanks and hoses do not freeze and many are not yet spraying for the pine engraver beetle.

Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, generating over $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 122,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at www.sdda.sd.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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