Insects on Maple Trees

Maple trees attract several types of insects.

There are about 125 types of maples trees worldwide, 13 of these species are native to North America. The three main types of maple trees used to cultivate maple syrup are the sugar maple, red maple and black maple trees.

Types

Some typical insects that affect sugar maple trees are forest tent caterpillars, maple leaf cutters, saddle prominent, and pear thrives. Pests that infest the red and black maple trees include Asian longhorn beetle, cankerworms, aphids and leafhoppers.

Damage

Insects make a maple tree weak and can lead to the death of the tree. Forest tent caterpillar eat holes into the bark of the maple tree to lay eggs, when the eggs hatch they infest the sapwood. Aphids digest plant sap by stabbing leaves with their mouthparts. The aphid's saliva damages the maple tree's leaves causing it to bubble and appear distorted.

Prevention/Solution

Destroying the forest tent caterpillar egg masses will control this pest's population. Insecticides help remove saddle prominent from maple trees. Asian longhorn beetles destroy trees; there is no cure beside the complete removal of the tree. Manage aphid colonies by pruning the tree or using insecticides.

References

• Maple Trees: Maple Tree Identification
• Maple Info: Sugar Maple Health
• SavAtree: Maple Tree Care, Maple Tree Pruning, Maple Tree Diseases Treatments and Tips
• SavAtree: Facts About the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Treatment options
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Forest Tent Caterpillar
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Saddled Prominent

Resources

• University of Kentucky Extension: Aphids