Black turpentine beetles are members of the pine borer family. Larger than related pine borers, the turpentine beetle is active along the entire east coast of the United States where they typically target southern pines, red spruce and other pines.
Black turpentine beetles are small, black, oval shaped and good flyers. Once active in the yard, the infected tree will fill the air with turpentine beetle pheromones used to attract more.
BLACK TURPENTINE BEETLE BIOLOGY
Female beetles initiate the problem by targeting a good host tree. Once on the bark, she’ll drill a hole attempting to nest under protective bark. Holes created by turpentine beetles will form a “pitch” of tree sap. This defensive behavior can thwart the invasion but often times is not enough to stop all activity. Beetles surviving the gooey sap will move laterally around the tree trunk channeling galleries soon to be used by young beetles.
Once inside the tree, the female will attract a male, mate and lay eggs. Turpentine beetle larvae will feed in groups burrowing just underneath the bark of host trees. This feeding will create wide tunnels making the damage quite unique to this species. Sawdust will often spill from the tree as they feed, a sure sign of damaging activity.
TURPENTINE BEETLE LIFE CYCLE
Within a few months of hatching and feeding, beetle larvae will branch off from their family group where they will drill small chambers used to pupate. A few weeks later they’ll emerge as adults and either stay on the host tree or move to one nearby attempting to spread their population. Turpentine beetles can cycle 3-4 times a year depending on your weather zone.
TURPENTINE BEETLE TREE DAMAGE
The initial damage done to trees infested with turpentine beetles is usually not enough to kill it. Nesting tends to focus on the exposed roots and the first 5-8 feet of trunk. Look for tell tale holes emitting sap. When first discovered, a thorough treatment should stop new beetles from coming around and within a few weeks, kill off the active beetles underneath the bark. If activity is controlled in the first 2-3 years, you can generally expect save the infested tree allowing it to fully recover.
View this video for a great overview of what the treatments will entail.
HOW TO TREAT FOR TURPENTINE BEETLES
Trees showing beetle activity should be sprayed with MAXXTHOR EC. One thorough treatment can usually kill off current activity but plan on treating every 3 months for the first year to ensure complete control.
Mix .25 oz of Maxxthor per gallon of water and plan on using .5 to 1 gallon of mixed spray per infested tree (depending on the size of the trunk).
Apply the Maxxthor using any good PUMP SPRAYER.
You can also use a good HOSE END SPRAYER. Using our sprayer, you’ll want to add 2.5 oz of Maxxthor and then fill it with water up to the 5 gallon line. Next, hook it to your garden hose and spray the mixture over infested trees and trees you want to protect from getting infested.
If you need to reach up 35-40 feet or more, our NO PUMP SPRAYER will help big time. It relies on air pressure and can be pumped up to 80-90 psi safely. The small one can hold 1.5 gallons of mixture and when pressurized, will pump out the entire contents with only one time filling it with air. It’s especially helpful when you need to treat trees that are not reachable with a garden hose.
This video covers all you need to know about the sprayer:
SYSTEMIC TREATMENTS
Although systemically treating for turpentine beetles usually won’t kill them all, it can help by getting deep rooting activity that reaches the heartwood. Systemics work by killing any pest that might feed on foliage or the inside layers of the limbs and trunks. This can have beneficial impact on sickly trees since they can’t stand to loose any vital nutrients damaging pests like aphids, caterpillars, pine moths or whiteflies will cause.
Use .1 oz of Prothor per inch of tree width and soil drench inside the drip line of any tree you want to protect. So for a tree 10 inches wide, you’d add 1 oz of Prothor to 3-5 gallons and then “pour” the mixture from a 5 gallon bucket into small holes you make on the ground around the tree trunk. Holes need only be large enough to hold the mixture when poured out and can be made with a pick axe or piece of rebar. Prothor will last a long time and only needs to be applied once a year.
Use a good EARTH AUGER to drill holes in the ground around the tree, just inside the drip line and a good 2 feet out from the trunk base.
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