Silver Lining to Pine Beetle Scourge

[Drachir]

For those of you who are not aware of the devastation created by the mountain pine beetle here is a brief summary. The beetle, as the name implies, usually dwells in the mountainous regions of Canada and the USA. Cold weather usually keeps the beetle under control, but a recent spate of warm winters have encouraged the beetle to spread, so that it is now in areas where it was once unknown. It is very destructive, killing trees by the millions and leaving vast areas of forest dead. All efforts to stop it have failed and the only real hope seems to be for a few really severe winters to halt its advance.

The article I have posted, however, indicates that the pine beetle might have a use in medicine as it is the home of microorganisms that may produce substances that could help fight disease.

Notorious pine beetle may be misunderstood