For Immediate Release                                                                                                                             MEDIA RELEASE

January 29, 2026

Falmouth Town Manager’s Office

TOWN OF FALMOUTH

Positive Identification of Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) in Falmouth

The Town of Falmouth, working with State and County partners, recently identified the presence of the Southern Pine Beetle in East Falmouth.  No larger than a grain of rice, the southern pine beetle (SPB) has become one of the most destructive forest pests in the Northeast.

Southern pine beetles were first detected in low numbers in Massachusetts in 2015, likely blown across Long Island Sound by southwest winds. For years, those small populations failed to gain a foothold. That changed in 2023, when favorable conditions allowed beetle numbers to surge, overwhelming pine defenses and killing trees across Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Southern pine beetles attack trees in large numbers. A single beetle poses little threat, but together they overwhelm a pine’s resin defenses, burrowing beneath the bark to lay eggs and introduce fungi that hasten the tree’s death. Within weeks, new beetles emerge and move on to nearby trees, creating expanding clusters of mortality that can grow rapidly—up to 10 feet per day.

Although the current winter temperatures are not ideal for the spread of SPB, as temperatures begin to warm it is important to report the presence of pine tree damage in order to track any potential spread.  Falmouth Tree Warden Jeremiah Pearson advises that “The Town of Falmouth is now working in collaboration with Barnstable County officials to develop a local response plan and an online portal to educate residents on the signs of Southern Pine Bark beetle presence and to allow private property owners to report any suspected damage to trees on their property.”  

Until this local portal is established, residents are asked to report any potential pine tree damage using the Massachusetts DCR Forest Health Program Southern Pine Beetle reporting form at the below link.  

**Signs of SPB include the reddening of an otherwise green crown in pitch pine tree. This will be accompanied by needle-sized holes throughout the bark area; the holes are small but very visible. You may see sap if the tree is still actively defending itself; you may not if the tree is already deceased.

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/688810dbaae1430f86b595c1c57daf5c

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jeremiah Pearson, Falmouth Tree Warden

Jeremiah.pearson@falmouthma.gov

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