One Bad Beetle

I discovered my cat, Jack playing with something in the yard the other day and found this beetle:

At first, I was excited to see it.  It had a metallic reflection in the sunshine and I thought it would be fun to paint:

Upon further research, I discovered it to be a “Large Flathead Pine Heartwood Borer Beetle.”  It is the beetle that I believe is destroying a nearby forest of pine trees.  According to the internet, the larvae of the beetle bore or dig their way through the heartwood of the tree.  The tunneling tends to destroy the tree’s cambium tissue which water and nutrients flow and can starve a tree to death if it’s infested.

It is hard to see these trees dying in the forest.  Trees take so long to grow.  I’m saddened that a beetle can quickly destroy it.

What worries me further is this beetle attacks other trees too.  I have many trees in my yard and now I worry that they may be at risk.  I need to find out what I can do to protect my trees from this bad beetle…

Nature often teaches me lessons about life – appreciate the beauty today because it may not last.

Peace Friends!