What is Beetle Kill Pine?
Beetle Kill Pine the result of a blue stain fungus that spreads from a beetle. Typically, this occurs in Pine, Douglas Fir, and Whitebark trees. The blue stain fungus works with the beetles by turning to the tree’s wood into nutrients. These beetles infest the dead or dying trees by injecting the blue-tinted fungus, while healthy trees have a way of expelling the beetles from infecting them.
Although the beetle is injecting a fungus it does not , however, damage or weaken the wood itself which is why we can use beetle kill in DIY projects and home or office builds. The wood is put through a kiln-drying process that burns away all the fungus, leaving us with beautiful and vibrant blue stain. Forests have been in more and more danger from these little creepy crawlers because they go around laying eggs in healthy trees which then strips them of water and nutrients they need to survive. These insects are as small as a grain of rice, but can do some damage to our forests. As of 2013, over 88 million acres of forest have been infested and deforested as a result of these beetles.
Beetle Kill Is Eco-Friendly
Although beetle kill is a problem when it comes to damaging our forests, it is very eco-friendly. Typically, the beetles only infect trees that lack life and are dying, which helps us identify which ones aren’t healthy and which ones we can deforest and replant. The healthier trees like we mentioned expel the beetles which means they usually don’t get infested. The healthier a tree is the more of a role it plays in taking in carbon dioxide. If a tree is dead, then it pollutes the air because it doesn’t do a great job at taking in the carbon dioxide.
When Did These Beetles Take Over?
These beetles are not new visitors, they have been around for hundreds of years. The only main difference is that with the climate change- the insects are now living through the summer which means they are being noticed more. There are ways to control these insects, but the sprays and pesticides can harm other plants surrounding them. There is no official cure for this epidemic or ways to prevent them from spreading, but more research is being done on ways to possibly stop these beetles.
What Can Beetle Kill Be Used For?
Beetle Kill can be used for a multitude of different things from siding, flooring, and other various projects. Here at Rocky Mountain, we stock V Edge Tongue and Groove siding in 6” and 8”. We always have 60,000 linear foot of material on the ground and ready for you to purchase, just as an added convenience. In our flooring, we carry 4”, 6”, and 8” wide planks that are all kiln-dried and sourced directly from the mills. The finishes we have available are micro bevel edge, hand-hewn and circle sawn. If you are working on a very specific project or need a certain cut, style, and pattern we can special order certain styles directly from our mills, no problem at all!
Beetle Kill Pine is a unique and one of a kind look that a lot of homeowners, architects, and designers fight for. It is very versatile and can be used in just about every way imaginable. Before we let you start on your next project, here are a few FAQs just to make your project easier!
What are some ideas on how I can use Beetle Kill Pine?
You can use beetle kill for cabinetry, paneling, doors, and furniture. It is the perfect material for a homeowner that doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on repairs and rebuilds in the future.
Is Beetle Kill affordable?
Because of the amount of infestation we have now, there is no shortage of beetle kill which means low prices are easy to find.
What about the fungus?
Don’t worry, the fungus is of no harm. It is burned away during the kiln drying process and by the time it completes the process, there is no fungus left.
Do you have more questions or need some inspiration? Give us a call or come visit us!
