pine trees

Let the trapping begin! Southern pine beetle trapping is underway in N.C.

by N.C. Forest Service | Mar 14, 2018

With last year’s active southern pine beetle outbreaks across the southeastern U.S., it is increasingly important to forecast if the “most destructive pest in the South” will again rear it’s ugly head. One of the ways to predict this is through Southern pine beetle trapping, which the N.C. Forest Service does each year. Traps have […]

Southern pine beetle on the rise across the South

by N.C. Forest Service | Feb 14, 2018

Smaller than a grain of rice, the southern pine beetle (SPB) is considered “the most destructive forest pest in the South”. This menacing label appropriately reflects the devastation it can cause, with outbreaks capable of costing millions of dollars between lost timber and management costs. Fortunately, SPB outbreaks are cyclical, typically occurring every 10-15 years. […]

It’s raining cats and… sawflies?

by N.C. Forest Service | Apr 5, 2017

Springtime in North Carolina means it’s raining pollen! A yellow glaze coats everything outside and many are taking their allergy medicine religiously. But if you’re in the right place at the right time, something else might be dropping onto your head from the pine trees: little worm-like insects called the pine catkin sawfly. Adult sawflies, […]

Summer ‘snow’: Woolly pine scale in N.C. trees

by N.C. Forest Service | Aug 31, 2016

In recent years, pine trees in North Carolina have seen their fair share of ice storms, polar vortexes, and snow and ice weight in the cold winter months. Trees are safe from these threats in the heat of the summer, but there’s one snowy-looking critter that still has its sights set on our pines. The woolly […]

When Beetles Attack: Predicting Southern pine beetle outbreaks

by N.C. Forest Service | Mar 11, 2015

When you think of the “most destructive pest in the South,” you may not envision a beetle the size of a grain of rice. But that’s how big it is. The Southern pine beetle is considered the worst of the worst when it comes to forest insects. During attack, pine needles fade from green to […]

Pining for fall colors

by N.C. Forest Service | Sep 25, 2013

We welcomed the first day of fall earlier this week. With the cooler season, soon we’ll be seeing the turning of leaves and their bright displays of reds, oranges, and yellows. But, whether you’ve noticed it or not, some fall colors are already upon us. I’m not referring to the occasional early-turning hardwood trees, I’m […]

News Roundup: April 21-27

by Paul Jones | Apr 27, 2012

Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to the full story. “NC Ag Commissioner Considers Greensboro Event a Learning Experience,” Southern Farm Network: On Wednesday, North Carolina’s Ag Commissioner, Steve […]

Let the trapping begin! Southern pine beetle trapping is underway in N.C.

Southern pine beetle on the rise across the South

It’s raining cats and… sawflies?

Summer ‘snow’: Woolly pine scale in N.C. trees

When Beetles Attack: Predicting Southern pine beetle outbreaks

Pining for fall colors

News Roundup: April 21-27

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