Ips Engraver Beetle Hits Pine Trees

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, activity is likely to occur when prolonged drought occurs in the East Texas piney woods, an increase in Ips (Epps), or pine engraver beetle. When trees are weakened or stressed due to lack of water or other conditions, engraver beetles may attack and kill many trees. They will attack almost any aged tree, but generally, trees less than ten years old might die from drought alone.