Tiny Beetle, Huge Trouble in NY

Who knew a bug smaller than a pencil eraser could wipe out entire forests? Suffolk County’s pine trees are under attack by southern pine beetles, and it’s all because their main predator—the northern long-eared bat—was nearly wiped out by a fungus brought over from Europe. Now, these beetles are multiplying like crazy, killing trees that have stood for centuries. Experts are scrambling for solutions, like controlled burns and thinning forests, but it’s a wild reminder of how one tiny change can mess up everything! #Science #WildlifeCrisis #Ecosystem