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Thursday, May 9, 2002 Beetles are killing area treesBy IVONA LERMAN DAYTONA BEACH — Southern pine beetles are once again killing trees across Volusia and Flagler counties, but so far the situation doesn't seem to be as bad as last year, a local forester said. In Volusia, pine beetles have attacked 18 new spots this year, compared to 36 spots detected by mid-May last year, said Steve Lloyd, a county forester for the Florida Division of Forestry. In Flagler, beetles reappeared in several spots on the west side of the county, but the attack still doesn't seem to be reaching epidemic proportions, said Mike Kuypers, district manager for the Division of Forestry. Lloyd said good news for homeowners this year is a new state program that will help them pay for cutting some of the infested trees. The beetles, which are smaller than a grain of rice, attack weak and stressed trees and quickly multiply, killing the trees and causing evergreen needles on slash pines and loblolly pines to turn yellow and red. Southern pine beetles are the most destructive and aggressive of five bark beetle species in Florida, and are especially tough to eradicate during drought conditions. Last summer and fall, pine beetles infested hundreds of acres of trees in Volusia and Flagler counties, then slowed their invasion during winter months. With the approach of the summer, the pesky insects are once again on the move. "We're holding our breath and hoping it doesn't get any worse," Lloyd said. "Nobody can tell for sure." A new cost-share program approved by the state this week may help stop the disease from spreading. Non-industrial homeowners can receive up to $2,500 from the Division of Forestry to cut infested trees documented after May 6. Each homeowner will be eligible to apply for money only once. Homeowners will have to pay the first $1,000 to qualify for the cost-share. The state will give money to homeowners who need to cut more than 50 trees in rural areas and more than two trees in urban areas. Only the removal of trees, which can help stop the spread of the disease, will qualify. |
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