Journal
Pine Beetle Art: A Bit of Oddball Inspiration
Are you shaking your head at the thought of art by tiny critters that kill trees? Good. That means I’m not alone. But… as I’ve been hiking around a ranch in South Dakota, that is exactly what I’ve found. Pine Beetle Art. Seriously!
[Tweet “Art and destruction go hand in hand when Pine Beetles go to work.”]
Here’s a short video clip that I shot while I was out taking photos yesterday. You’ll have to forgive the wind noise. I had to sneak out during a short break in the weather to take photos on an overcast day. (And yes, I got rained on right after I shot that video!)
The patterns created by the beetle larvae are fascinating. I’m quite sure those little critters have no particular plan in mind as they burrow under the tree bark, but the results are amazing.
Once I noticed the first “carvings,” I started seeing more and more of them. The patterns fade over time, so the trick was to find a dead tree that was old enough for the bark to fall off, but fresh enough that the patterns were still visible.
See the holes in the bark at the top of this photo? That was what helped me understand that these carvings were actually Pine Beetle art.
As I looked at various trees, I found this radiant pattern quite often. It would be interesting to know why this pattern would be so common, but let’s be honest… Beetle larvae behavior is not my cup of tea. But Pine Beetle Art? Very, very cool!
Your Turn
Do you find inspiration in oddball places? Leave a comment with your story. I’d love to hear where you see patterns, textures and inspiration.
Great pics. were you able to do any rubbings or such? I never know what did that. Thanks for sharing.
No rubbings yet. It’s a cold day here today. We had snow this morning and temp stayed in the 40s. Tomorrow should be warmer, and some experimental rubbings are high on my list!
The Emerald Ash Borer has done the same to the trees in Southern Ontario. I’ve also taken pictures and was wondering about trying a rubbing.
Go for it, Cathy! I’m posting pics of my rubbings in the blog this week.