About Blue Stain Pine (Beetle Kill Pine)
Beetle Kill Pine is the result of blue stain fungus that spreads from bark beetles to Lodgepole Pine, Douglas Fir, and Whitebark Pine trees. The blue stain pine fungus works symbiotically with the beetles by turning the tree wood into nutrients. Healthy trees would usually expel the beetles by producing resin, but cycles of warm weather have weakened many trees and prevented them from producing enough of their defensive resin.
A byproduct of the damage done by this hungry duo is a strong and beautiful piece of blue pine lumber that is streaked with a natural blue-grey stain. The beetles do not weaken or contaminate the wood, and the fungi is actually burnt away during the kiln drying process. Affordable, eco-friendly blue stain pine is all that is left behind.
Over the past decade forests in the Western United States have slowly been dying and turning from green to red. This is caused by mountain pine beetle infestation. These tiny culprits bore into the bark of trees and lay eggs stripping the tree of water and nutrients. Mountain pine beetles belong to a group of insects known as bark beetles. Although they are as tiny as a grain of rice, these insects can demolish thousands of acres in the blink of an eye. It is estimated that as of the Spring of 2013, all 19 of the Western States and Canada experienced the decimation of over 88 million acres of forest.
These miniature insects are an equal opportunity destroyer that comes without bias when choosing an area to infest. They will overtake wilderness areas, mountain subdivisions and backyards, and of course the pine tree. They have an insatiable appetite for ponderosa, lodgepole, scotch, and limber pine.
We supply beetle kill pine lumber and have it milled for flooring, siding and timbers.
Give us a call and we can help you with any questions you have about using blue stain pine for furniture, ceilings, siding and more!
Last Updated about 4 years
