Editing Pinyon pine (section)

==Relationship with wildlife==
[[File:Sap-Globs.png|thumb|''[[Ips confusus]]'' trapped in a glob of sap formed by a pitch tube as a defense mechanism by the pinyon pine]]
The [[pinyon jay]] (''Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus'') takes its name from the tree, and pinyon nuts form an important part of its diet. It is very important for regeneration of pinyon woods, as it stores large numbers of the seeds in the ground for later use, and excess seeds not used are in an ideal position to grow into new trees. The [[Mexican jay]] is also important for the dispersal of some pinyon species, as, less often, is the [[Clark's nutcracker]]. Many other species of animal also eat pinyon nuts, without dispersing them.

''[[Ips confusus]]'', known as the pinyon ips, is a bark beetle that kills weak or damaged pinyon pine trees. The beetles feed on the xylem and phloem of the trees. As a defense, the trees flood the holes produced by the beetles with sap.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=David |title=Cool Bug Facts: The Pinyon and The Engraver (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/cool-bug-facts-the-pinyon-and-the-engraver.htm |website=www.nps.gov |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=18 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref>