IPS beetle

[RobSC]

I have several SYP trees that have been killed or in the process of dying due to IPS. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and cut them down and have them sawn. Two of them are 32 DBH. I have some large projects in mind but I'm really not sure of the size lumber yet. I guess the biggest question is how long can I let the trees stand before I have to cut them?

[Sixacresand]

Standing dead pine seems to deteriorate quickly.  I would get them down and milled as soon as possibe.   

[treeslayer2003]

what he said ^^^

[Texas Ranger]

Any green crown left?  Takes a while for Ips (normally) to kill a tree, unlike SPB they can live a couple of years in a tree without killing it.  If there is still green crown, you have a while.

[RobSC]

Some of them are only brown at the top. The others are completely brown but still have the cones and bark.

[WDH]

Cut them quick.

[Southside]

A year and a half ago I worked on a lot that had bark beetle killed trees, got all the obvious ones and thought I got enough of a buffer, had to go back this winter and do a lot more clearing.  Get ahead of them and get it out of there. 

[redprospector]

I'm sure that they're different than the beetles we have here. But one thing I've learned dealing with bark beetles is that if you don't get them down and gone before they are dead, the beetles will just leave the dead tree and infest other live trees. If you have a beetle infestation...time is of the essence.

[Magicman]

First, Welcome to the Forestry Forum, RobSC. 

I like to get them before they loose all of the straw, and certainly before they start loosing bark.

[bucknwfl]

They will leave the tree as soon as it starts to dry out
Your major concern as you all know is the stain and that speeds up as the temps rise. Although there is a small market down this way.  People are asking for the stained SYP for the unique character
The is a fine line between unique and too far gone