Southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) is an insect pest of pine trees. It was first detected in Texas in 1987.
The southern pine beetle is one of pine's most destructive insect enemies in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Because populations build rapidly to outbreak proportions and large numbers of trees are killed, this insect threatens southern pine forests. Recent expansion of the range has led to outbreaks of southern pine beetle in northeastern U.S.