US officials warn the Southern pine beetle could hugely impact Alabama 's $ 11bn wood products industry this year . A full-grown Southern pine beetle is still about half the length of a grain of rice, but state and federal forestry officials worry this tiny bug could have a monster impact this year on the state of Alabama's $11 billion wood products industry. The fear stems from a huge number of trees being left stressed from last year 's record droughts and drought - affected trees do not make as much of the sap that is their primary defence against the beetles . Foresters fear the US could be heading down the same path as the devastating outbreak that occurred in 1999 in Tennessee and led to more than $ 5000 in timber losses . They are already seeing signs of increased activity by the beetles . Normally evidence of beetle activity does not emerge until May or June .
US officials warn the Southern pine beetle could hugely impact Alabama 's $ 11bn wood products industry this year . The fear stems from a huge number of trees being left stressed from last year 's record droughts and drought - affected trees do not make as much of the sap that is their primary defence against the beetles . Foresters fear the US could be heading down the same path as the devastating outbreak that occurred in 1999 in Tennessee and led to more than $ 5000 in timber losses . They are already seeing signs of increased activity by the beetles . Normally evidence of beetle activity does not emerge until May or June .