spruce bark beetle

The spruce bark beetle is a small insect that targets spruce trees, burrowing beneath the bark to lay eggs. Its larvae feed on the tree's inner layers, disrupting nutrient and water flow, which weakens or kills the tree. Beetle populations often increase after stressful conditions like drought or storms, enabling outbreaks that can devastate large areas of spruce forest. These outbreaks also create opportunities for pests and diseases to spread and can lead to significant ecological and economic impacts. Management involves monitoring beetle activity and, in some cases, removing or treating affected trees to prevent widespread damage.