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 .
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-stressed 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 begin in 1999 in Tennessee and led to more than $1bn in timber losses. They are already seeing signs of increased activity by the beetles. Normally evidence of beetle damage does not emerge until May or June.