Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom said entomologists have confirmed a slightly higher level of infestation than usual of Ips and black turpentine beetles in Louisiana's pine tree forests.

"We have had two trapping periods since hurricanes Katrina and Rita and there has been no detection of the more serious threat of Southern pine beetle," Odom said. "There is always a certain amount of Ips and black turpentine activity, but our pine trees have been under more stress from wind and drought this year so they are susceptible to these opportunistic critters."

Odom said brown and discolored pine trees along the I-12 corridor in the Florida Parishes have become noticeable to motorists and his office has received several calls from concerned residents.

"Unfortunately, pine trees along open breaks like I-12, and golf courses and big estates had more hurricane wind stress that pine trees clumped together in forests," Odom said. "The hurricanes blew these trees back and forth for more than ten hours and that disturbed the root systems."

Odom said insect damage in commercial pine forests was within expected levels.

State Forester Paul Frey said there is nothing a homeowner can do to prevent Ips and black turpentine beetle from attacking healthy trees.

"If you have a tree that has turned brown and you want to protect your other green pine trees, the best thing to do is cut the diseased tree down and remove it from the premises," Frey said. "If you don't remove the tree the bugs will simply go on to the next healthy tree and attack it too."

Odom cautioned homeowners to be sure to hire a tree service with a licensed arborist to do any tree work around homes.

"It's important to protect your home and other possessions by hiring a licensed professional who is insured and bonded," Odom said. "Removing the trees and beetles is necessary to defend the other trees, but you don't want to damage your home in the process by not hiring a licensed arborist."

There is really no practical and economical pesticide treatment to protect healthy trees.

Frey reiterated that the voracious Southern pine beetle has not been detected.

"Ips and black turpentine beetles don't attack in the same numbers as the Southern pine beetles," Frey said. "The Southern pine beetle attacks in amazingly large numbers and can kill several trees in a matter of days and continue to spread to adjoining trees."

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