LONGMONT — The city forester has identified 43 trees in Longmont that are dying from bark beetles this year, up from the 11 trees he found last year.
The numbers have raised concerns that an epidemic could be brewing in blue spruce trees around town.
The city has notified about 30 property owners with trees killed by an ips beetle infestation to remove the trees at their own cost, forester Ken Wicklund said.
The beetles tunnel into bark and lay eggs. The larvae hatch and live off a tree’s phloem, which transports nutrients. Trees stressed by years of drought in Colorado are having a harder time defending themselves against the insects.
To thwart the beetles’ progress, the city is working to remove the trees. Tree service contractors say that can cost $250 to $1,800 per tree.
Brad Bielen, an owner of Cut Above tree service, said wood from the infested trees can’t be sold for profit.
“We are not allowed to mill the wood or firewood it out,” he said. “Everything has to go out to the landfill.”
