Tree Pest Control Info

Trees need love and attention in order to survive and remain pest free.

Maintaining the health and appearance of your tree takes hard work and dedication, especially when the tree has become infected with pests. Different pests cause different levels of damage to trees, but if ignored, any pest can damage your tree beyond repair.

Types

The three basic types of pests that can damage the life of a tree are pests that chew, pests that suck and pests that tunnel. Examples of chewing pests include the Japanese beetle and the tent caterpillar. Spider mites, thrips and leaf-hoppers are known as sucking pests while the elm bark beetle is known as a tunneling, or boring, pest.

Effects

Sucking pests live on the outside of branches and release a sweet sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to mold on leaves. Boring pests tunnel into the twigs, stems or roots and feed off the vascular tissue of the tree, reducing the nutrients and moisture needed for the tree to live. Chewing pests can weaken the health of a tree with repeated attacks and eventually kill it.

Prevention

The best protection against tree pest infestations is to keep the tree as healthy as possible. Remove all dead or fallen wood from a tree and prune the leaves in late fall or winter to prevent infestation. Spraying the tree with an insecticide can kill unwanted pests. Milky spore can kill Japanese beetles and is nontoxic.

References

• Tree Help: Tree and Shrub Insects
• Extremely Green: Organic Pest Control Guide
• University of Minnesota: Pests of Trees and Shrubs