White Pine "Worms" in Maine: Pine Sawyers, Not the Killers

What You're Hearing

Crunching sounds, 2mm holes, bark peeling, white ringed larvae with pincers under bark = pine sawyer larvae (longhorned beetles).

They're Secondary

Sawyers infest already dead or dying trees. The primary killer was likely Ips engraver bark beetles—look for shotgun-pellet-sized exit holes on bark.

Action

• The sawyers have left; no control needed on this tree.
• If nearby pines yellow, spray bark with Onyx (insecticide) as preventive.
• Call Maine Forest Service for a free forester inspection.

The tree is dead. Remove it; focus on protecting neighbors.