The lingering effects of the recent drought continue to add up. The latest victim has been the spread of several types of beetles that have been killing trees. Work crews were cutting down trees Monday at Timberlake Campground at the Barnett Reservoir. Timberlake resident Jill Reese have been worried about the dozens of threes that have turned dark brown. “We have noticed, and when the wind blows, we have been very scared of the trees falling,” Reese said. Administrators for the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District have been worried, too. They have started a tree removal program that could cost more than $100,000. It’s all the result of the spread of IPS and ambrosia beetles. “I have got between 700 and 1,000 trees,” said forester Rick Hollis, with PRVWSD. “All of them have to come down.”‘Pine beetle pandemic’: Bugs, drought taking out pine trees in MississippiThey, and the Southern pine beetle, have thrived on the recent drought and stressed-out trees like pine, magnolia and cypress. “They eat through the inside of the bark and go into what they call the phloem and cambium layer and they cut off the water and nutrient transports to the tree,” Hollis said. “It’s basically a death to the tree because it starves to death.”Statewide, the timber industry has taken a dramatic hit that could easily reach in the range of millions of dollars. The beetles have increased their feeding and their damage because it’s been so dry for so long.”If you don’t take action, the beetles will continue to spread and get trees that otherwise could be saved,” said John Sigman, with PRVWSD.Sigman said the tree removal program is a dramatic step, but one they have to take. “They are attacking these trees, and our trees are going to die within six months,” Sigman said. “While our trees are in parks, campgrounds and other public areas, we need to remove them as soon as possible before the limbs start falling on people, equipment, furniture, and all that kind of stuff.”Adding insult to certain financial injury is that they can’t sell the logs because they are infected. No lumber mills will take them. Of course, the beetles aren’t just hitting public land. Residents across the state are impacted, too. If you have a tree that is turning brown, contact a forester or the Mississippi Forestry Commission.
RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. —
The lingering effects of the recent drought continue to add up. The latest victim has been the spread of several types of beetles that have been killing trees.
Work crews were cutting down trees Monday at Timberlake Campground at the Barnett Reservoir. Timberlake resident Jill Reese have been worried about the dozens of threes that have turned dark brown.
“We have noticed, and when the wind blows, we have been very scared of the trees falling,” Reese said.
Administrators for the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District have been worried, too. They have started a tree removal program that could cost more than $100,000. It’s all the result of the spread of IPS and ambrosia beetles.
“I have got between 700 and 1,000 trees,” said forester Rick Hollis, with PRVWSD. “All of them have to come down.”
They, and the Southern pine beetle, have thrived on the recent drought and stressed-out trees like pine, magnolia and cypress.
“They eat through the inside of the bark and go into what they call the phloem and cambium layer and they cut off the water and nutrient transports to the tree,” Hollis said. “It’s basically a death to the tree because it starves to death.”
Statewide, the timber industry has taken a dramatic hit that could easily reach in the range of millions of dollars. The beetles have increased their feeding and their damage because it’s been so dry for so long.
“If you don’t take action, the beetles will continue to spread and get trees that otherwise could be saved,” said John Sigman, with PRVWSD.
Sigman said the tree removal program is a dramatic step, but one they have to take.
“They are attacking these trees, and our trees are going to die within six months,” Sigman said. “While our trees are in parks, campgrounds and other public areas, we need to remove them as soon as possible before the limbs start falling on people, equipment, furniture, and all that kind of stuff.”
Adding insult to certain financial injury is that they can’t sell the logs because they are infected. No lumber mills will take them.
Of course, the beetles aren’t just hitting public land. Residents across the state are impacted, too. If you have a tree that is turning brown, contact a forester or the Mississippi Forestry Commission.
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https://www.wapt.com/article/trees-coming-down-near-reservoir-after-bugs-cause-dollar100k-in-damage/46031766
