We have the same problems with the Pine Bark Beetle here on the east coast also. Between those and the Gypsy Moths, we are loosing a lot of good trees. In the Nat./State forests they won't let anyone go in and remove the dead ones nor will they spray the outside edges of the dead areas. Every time any thing is said about possibly spraying, the environmentalists threaten lawsuits. After a while, the tree-huggers will only have dead trees to wrap their arms around.