Do you suspect a pest is eating your trees? Identifying which pest is wreaking havoc can help you determine what to do next.
Dozens of pests invade local trees, and each responds to different types of treatment. Scheduling professional tree services in Newton, NC, can help you pinpoint the type of pest eating your tree and determine how to proceed. But for now, this guide can help you understand the different types of species.
Common Types of Tree Pests and How To Spot Them
Tree pests can be classified into a few different categories based on how they feed on trees. The most common ones include:
- Foliage feeders: As the name suggests, these types of pests eat leaves and foliage. You might notice holes in the leaves or excessive foliage on the ground outside of the autumn months. A few common foliage feeders include bagworms, eastern tent moths, and gypsy moths.
- Sapsuckers: These insects feed on the sap inside leaves. They have special mouthparts that allow them to pierce the leaves and draw out sap. You may notice yellowish spots on the leaves, indicating that the insects have sucked the nutrients out of that section. You may also notice honeydew drops on the leaf’s surface, which is a combination of unprocessed sugar and water.
- Root feeders: A particularly damaging type of tree pest, root feeders live underground and feed on the roots. They are challenging to identify because you typically would not spot the actual pest or see visible signs of root damage. However, root problems often lead to symptoms like yellowing leaves or stunted growth.
- Bark borers: What’s eating your trees might be bark or trunk borers, which burrow into the tree trunk and feed on the bark or lay eggs inside the tree. The emerald ash borer is a common and dangerous example of this type of pest that often completely decimates trees, despite early interventions.
How To Mitigate Tree Pests
No matter what is eating your trees, contacting a certified arborist as soon as possible is your best bet for reviving them. Tree infestations can quickly kill the species. By intervening as soon as possible, arborists can start reversing the damage and give the tree the best chance of survival.
An arborist will perform a tree health assessment to determine exactly what is plaguing the tree, whether it is a tree disease, fungus, nutrient deficiency, or a combination of the three. They will then address each of the health issues through solutions such as:
- Applying insecticide to kill the pests lingering in or around the tree
- Pruning affected areas to prevent them from sapping nutrients from the rest of the tree
- Adding fertilizer to the soil to replenish lost nutrients
- Wrapping the trunk to protect it against pests that may still be in the area
Let Us Help You Save Your Tree
Now that you have a better idea of what’s eating your trees, it’s time to call Limbwalkers Tree & Crane Service for assistance. We will perform the specific tree care measures necessary to save the dying tree and kill the infestation.
Call us today at 828-413-7227 to schedule your free estimate.
