Overlapping complexes of insects invade dead wood according to the species of tree, stage of decomposition, and ambient conditions. I studied beetle succession in felled loblolly pines and southern red oaks by documenting beetle arrival and residency in freshly killed standing tree trunks. Six trees of each species at Feliciana Preserve in West Feliciana Parish, LA were felled during October 2004 and April 2005 for a total of 24 trees sampled from October 2004 – September 2005. Four 48-inch bolts were cut from each felled tree. Each bolt was further cut into eight six-inch sections, reassembled in proper order, and positioned standing upright. Insects were aspirated from the interfaces of sections once a week for the first month and then monthly for the duration of the study. Specimens from each sample were identified to species and counted. A species inventory, richness estimates, and accumulation curves are presented. Beetle species richness on red oak wood was higher than on pine. Fungivores was the most abundant functional group represented in both types of wood, followed by predators, with wood boring beetles surprisingly infrequent in our samples.