Pine Beetles in Georgia: Signs, Dead Pine Trees & What to Do
A pine tree that was green in May and rusty brown by August is one of the most common calls we get in the summer. Most of the time, bark beetles are involved. Georgia has several kinds of pine bark beetles, and once they take hold of a tree, it usually goes downhill fast.
Here’s how to spot pine beetle damage, what’s going on in Georgia right now and what to do if your pines are affected.
The Pine Beetles Found in Georgia
According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, three main types of pine bark beetles cause problems in Georgia:
- Southern pine beetle (SPB): the most destructive. It can kill large numbers of healthy trees over many acres in a short time. It’s about 1/8 inch long.
- Ips engraver beetles: several species are found throughout the state. They usually kill a few trees at a time, often trees already stressed by drought or storms.
- Black turpentine beetle (BTB): the largest, about 1/4 inch long. It usually attacks the lower trunk of stressed trees and kills only a few at a time.
What’s happening in Georgia right now
The USDA Forest Service’s 2025 Forest Health Highlights for Georgia reported 502 southern pine beetle spots statewide, mostly in loblolly pine stands. SPB activity was predicted to be moderate in the Piedmont, which includes metro Atlanta. The report also noted a sharp increase in Ips beetles in areas damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Signs of Pine Beetle Damage
The Georgia Forestry Commission lists these signs of an attack:
- Pitch tubes: small globs of resin on the bark where beetles bored in. SPB and Ips pitch tubes are about the size of a dime and white to yellow. SPB tubes often look like popped popcorn tucked into bark crevices. BTB tubes are larger, purplish and low on the trunk.
- Boring dust: reddish-brown sawdust in bark crevices and around the base of the tree
- Green needles on the ground
- Galleries under the bark: S-shaped tunnels for SPB, Y- or H-shaped for Ips
- Fading needles: the crown turns from green to yellow to reddish-brown, often starting at the top
Severely stressed trees sometimes can’t produce pitch tubes at all, so entrance holes, boring dust and needles on the ground may be the only early signs.
What Causes Pine Beetle Attacks?
Beetles go after weak trees. The Georgia Forestry Commission says attacks usually happen when pines are stressed by overcrowding, drought, saturated soils, storm damage or disease. Around homes, we also see a lot of beetle problems after:
- Lightning strikes
- Construction that cut or compacted roots, sometimes a few years earlier
- Storms that broke tops or snapped limbs
- Long, hot dry spells
What to Do If Your Pine Has Beetles
Remove infested trees quickly
Once a pine is heavily attacked, it usually can’t be saved. The Georgia Forestry Commission advises promptly removing severely damaged pines because they can become breeding material for more beetles. A dead pine also gets brittle quickly, which makes removal more dangerous and more expensive the longer you wait.
Check the neighboring pines
Southern pine beetles in particular spread from tree to tree. If one pine in a group is dying, have the others looked at right away.
Spraying
For individual trees newly attacked by black turpentine beetles, spraying the trunk with an approved insecticide can help. The Georgia Forestry Commission does not recommend chemical control of southern pine beetles or Ips beetles in forest settings.
Prevention
- Water yard pines during long droughts.
- Protect roots from heavy equipment, trenching and new paving.
- Thin out overcrowded pines.
- Remove dead, lightning-struck or storm-damaged pines promptly.
Dead Pine Near Your House? Don’t Wait
A dead pine next to a home is a real hazard. They can drop large limbs or snap in the next storm. See our loblolly pine guide for more on Georgia’s most common pine, our post on how to tell if a tree is dead, and our tree removal services and tree removal cost guide. For forestry questions on larger properties, you can also reach the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-800-GA-TREES.
Pine Beetle FAQs
What are the signs of pine beetles?
The Georgia Forestry Commission lists green needles on the ground, boring dust, pitch tubes on the bark, and galleries under the bark. Needles that fade from green to yellow to reddish-brown are a later sign.
Can a pine tree recover from beetles?
A tree with a few failed attacks, where the tree pushed the beetles out with resin, can survive. A tree that’s heavily attacked, with many pitch tubes and fading needles, usually can’t be saved.
Should I remove a pine tree with beetles?
Usually, yes, and quickly. The Georgia Forestry Commission advises promptly removing severely damaged pines because they can become breeding material for more beetles.
Can I spray for pine beetles?
Spraying an approved insecticide on the trunk can help individual trees newly attacked by black turpentine beetles. The Georgia Forestry Commission does not recommend chemical control of southern pine beetles or Ips beetles in forest settings.
How can I protect my pine trees from beetles?
Keep them healthy. Water during long droughts, avoid damaging roots during construction, thin crowded pines, and remove dead or storm-damaged pines quickly so they don’t attract beetles.
Need Help With a Tree in Your Yard?
Avalon Tree Services is based in Lilburn and works throughout Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta. If you’re not sure whether a tree should stay or go, we’ll come take a look and give you an honest answer. Contact us or call 770-415-8581 for a free estimate.
Jose Roman is the owner of Avalon Tree Services and a member of the Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA member #68916703). He leads the crews behind every tree removal, pruning job and storm cleanup we do across Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta, working out of our home base in Lilburn. Jose reviews the advice on this site so it lines up with what we actually see in Georgia yards: tall loblolly pines, aging water oaks and red clay that turns to mud after a week of rain.
