Pitch tubes on a drought-stressed pine are one of the earliest signs of a bark beetle attack in metro Atlanta. After a dry late summer, loblolly and shortleaf pines heading into fall under stress are exactly what native bark beetles look for.
Pitch tubes look like small popcorn-sized blobs of resin on the trunk, where the tree has tried to push beetles out. Fine reddish boring dust in bark crevices or at the base, and a crown that fades from green to yellow to red, are the next signs. By the time a crown turns fully red, beetles have often moved on to nearby pines.
Not every resin spot means a lost tree. Boutte Tree's ISA Certified Arborists weigh the number of attack sites, the condition of the crown, and nearby pines, homes, and power lines before recommending removal or monitoring. Sometimes one infested pine needs to come down quickly to protect the rest of the stand.
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A real close-up from a Boutte Tree job of pitch tubes (small, popcorn-like resin blobs) on a pine trunk, paired with a wider shot of a pine crown fading from green to yellow. A crew member inspecting the trunk adds scale. Authentic job photos strongly outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Resin Blobs on Your Pine? Look Closer" or "Pitch Tubes Are a Pine Fighting Back"