• Pine trees serve as hosts to different species of bugsyoung pine-tree cone image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Pine trees outlive most humans, reaching ages of 100 years or more. They populate the earth in approximately 100 different species, and produce pine cones to propagate. In the United States, there are 35 species of pine trees that are mostly grown in colder climates. They are used for their timber, for decoration (they are our "Christmas trees") and for wood pulp. They thrive in full sun exposure and require almost no extra watering once they become fully grown. In addition to providing food for birds, they also serve as a host for different species of bugs that use them to nest and survive.
  
  

The Pine Webworm

• The pine webworm bug is actually a moth, dark to medium gray in color. This bug is in southern Canada and most of the eastern United States, and they attack pitch, Virginia, white, shortleaf and slash pines. One or two-year-old seedlings are usually the most vulnerable to them, but they can also affect large trees. The seedlings aren't typically killed, but an infestation can cause growth to be inhibited. To notice their presence, look for a large mass of excrement entangled in silken webbing. A closer look will reveal larvae, which are light gray with darker tan stripes. Hand picking is usually enough to get rid of the pine webworm. In some cases, chemicals are necessary to remove them.
  
  

European Pine Sawfly

• This is the most common sawfly that infests pines in ornamental nurseries and Christmas tree plantations. They are common in southwest Ontario, and stretch from New England west to Iowa. Their larvae look like caterpillars and are precursors to a wasp-like insect. They prefer table top and mugo pines, but on rare occasions will attack other varieties. These bugs will attack the needles of a tree, making them look like straw. They only eat old growth and the tree is never killed. A heavily infested tree will only have new needles left on it. These larvae are green tinted with a light stripe down their back. There are several control methods, from picking off eggs to introducing parasites that will destroy them.
  
  

Southern Pine Beetle

• This beetle is a killer. In a 1973 to 1977 outbreak, they killed approximately 4.5 billion board feed of timber. They occur in the southern United States, Mexico and Central America. They attack all species of pines. The first sign of them are needles that turn from green to red and then to brown. They have a beetle appearance and are dark reddish brown to black. The bug infests the bark and lays eggs. They also carry a fungus which quickens the trees' demise. Very high or low temperatures will kill the bugs. There are control methods but not much can be done in a severe outbreak, in which thousands of beetles can invade one tree.