I believe pine beetles eat only the cambium layer and the tree dies because it can no longer transport water. Much the same affect as Dutch elm diseas. Processing these logs for whatever they use spruce for removes the soft cambium along with bark. If left standing of course other wood boring species will destroy its value, so don't leave it standing.I dont think dead trees killed by these beetles would make very good lumber since the larvae consumes the wood. The government needs to find away to either use pesticides or remove healthy trees that have not been effected by this evasive species brought here from east asia.The beetle will consume just about every type of tree in north America especially maple.
My neighbor run a hose into my yard and was pumping his septic system. The nitrogen killed four Colorado Blue Spruce about 22 inches in diameter. So I ordered an Alaskan saw mill. Didn't turn out bad even though they were standing dead four years.
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