What is causing the increased pine bark beetle outbreaks?
Beetle outbreaks are generally associated with increasing tree stress. Several factors have combined over the past two years in southern Alabama to increase pine tree stress. First, the area has been impacted by a series of hurricanes, which have blasted the area with high winds, isolated salt spray, and in some cases flooding. The most widespread impact has been high winds, which have defoliated and reduced tree canopy, however, the damage hidden beneath the soil is by far the most important factor contributing to stressed trees. Often high winds rock trees damaging root systems and often severing the smaller feeder roots trees depend on for water absorption. A second factor has been the recent drought, which has caused trees with hurricane damaged root systems, to become increasingly stressed. By some estimates, mature trees can lose up to 300 gallons of water per day from transpiration. As the summer drought lingered and high temperatures persisted, trees became increasingly suscept
