Pitch Tubes
Beetles are sometimes ‘stuck’ in pitch
About Pitch Tubes
Small, reddish-brown beetles often become trapped in pitch tubes—resin masses exuded by pine trees in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood—as a defense response. These pitch tubes signal infestation by bark beetles (family Curculionidae), which bore into pine bark, causing damage that can weaken or kill trees if untreated. Homeowners should monitor for these resin masses to protect their landscape pines.
Pitch Tubes (Beetles are sometimes ‘stuck’ in pitch) is a landscape pest commonly found in Middle Tennessee, including Columbia, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, and the surrounding areas. This entry is part of our Landscape Pests identification guide.
As lawn care and treatment specialists, we encounter Pitch Tubes regularly when servicing properties across the region. Proper identification is the first step toward effective pest management that protects both your turf and your landscape plantings.
Quick Facts
- Common Name
- Pitch Tubes
- Scientific Name
- Beetles are sometimes ‘stuck’ in pitch
- Category
- Landscape Pest
- Region
- Middle Tennessee
