I have a large pine tree in my yard that has died?

Question

I noticed recently that there were tons of marks on a very large pine tree in my yard. I think they were made by a wood p****r, but haven't seen the bird. I noticed today that all the pine needles have turned brown & i think something must have killed the tree. I was looking over the tree and noticed that it seemed to be making a noise like something was inside it or something. I noticed a bunch of ants going up and coming down it, but didn't see any other bugs. Anyone know what could have caused this?

Answer 1

It is a pretty sure thing your tree is infected with one of the several pine beetles.  The female insects burrow into the inner bark to eat and lay eggs and the resulting larva continue to eat until the tree literally starves to death.  A serious infestation can kill a large tree in as little as two weeks.  The marks you see may have been from woodpeckers that were after the larva or they may be resin that the tree has produced in defense trying to block the invaders.  You can hear bark beetle larva inside a tree.  And don't believe for one minute that most pine trees only live thirty or forty years.

Answer 2

it could be a number of things but would have to say that most likely it was the ants. once they start nesting in the ground around it they end of killing the roots and thus the tree grows weak and other bugs and birds start to destroy it.. best bet is to cut it down before it falls.

Answer 3

Pine trees don't last more than about 30 or 40 years at best.  

Chances are it was weak or dying and the insects took over after that happened.

As for the sound, I have heard that termites can be noisy, but I always thought it required sensitive listening equipment to hear 'em.  No?

Answer 4

in Virginia we have a problems with various beetles destroying pine trees...I have a few fruit trees and what I started doing is every spring and fall I buy some insecticide made by Bayer that you mix with water and water the tree with it - once a year - I do twice becaue I've lost alot of trees to bugs. None this year or last!!