Do Pine Trees Attract Beetles?

Q: We recently had lightning strike a tree in our backyard. We had the tree chipped and used the chips for mulch. Six weeks later, we noticed two pines nearby oozing rosin from the bottom ten feet of the trunks. Did the chips attract more beetles?

A: Yes, it would have been better not to spread the pine chips around your other pines. Fresh chips can attract beetles to healthy trees. Early-arriving beetles then exude a beetle attractant that brings in even more of the pests. Hire an ISA certified arborist (www.georgiaarborist.org) to assess the situation and decide whether spraying insecticide on your pines is warranted.