Trees are simply majestic, and they provide us with many benefits. Therefore, we all want to keep them healthy and robust, right?
Well, sadly, some bugs don’t think the same. There are over 10 quintillion bugs alive on earth today, and although almost all of them don’t threaten your trees, others will do whatever is possible to kill them.
That is why, in this blog post, we’ll tell you 3 common bugs that kill trees and how to keep them far away from your loved trees.
Yes, Emerald ash tree borers can quickly kill your trees, which will only take 2 or 4 years if nothing is done to save them. These bugs are ¼’’ or ½’’ long and have a particular and streaking metallic green color.
Also known by its acronym EAB, they are native to northeastern Asia and were detected in the United States in 2002.
Although the adult emerald ash borer eats the tree leaves, the real problem is the larvae, and you may wonder why. The larvae feed on the nutrient-rich tissue under the tree barks, forming the singular S-shaped lines in the tree.
This process disrupts the tree’s ability to move nutrients like water and food from its roots to its leaves, leading to death.
Spider mites are so small that they can seem inoffensive at a glance. But that is precisely what makes them so hazardous: They are challenging to see with the naked eye, and you won’t notice them until they grow in number.
Spider mites range from 1/20 to 1/25 inches long and come in various colors, such as red, brown, yellow, and green.
Spider mites can kill trees and shrubs of all types but usually prefer mature trees.
These bugs kill trees by sucking cell contents. As said, their size makes them hazardous since a reduced number of spider mites isn’t usually a problem. Still, they spread exceptionally quickly, and having a very high population of spider mites can be deadly to your trees since, as they increase, they will affect your trees in the same proportion.
Thus, keeping an eye close to your tree is crucial to see the early signs of spider mites. These generally are white or yellow on top of leaves or needles, have a bronze appearance in one or many areas of your plant, and weave silky webs around leaves and stems.
2 or 3 years are enough for a tree to die after they get infected by gypsy moths. Their scientific name is Lymantria dispar. They are native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa and arrived in the U.S. around 1868.
This peculiar bug passes through 4 stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and the moth state. Regarding color, in the adult stage, the male is brown and a strong flier; on the other hand, the female is white with black and cannot fly.
When talking about gypsy moths, it is essential to say that they can kill a tree only in the larvae stage. The larvae kill the tree by defoliating it. In this stage, they consume all the leaves of the tree. And, of course, the tree loses most of its capability to photosynthesize without leaves. Without photosynthesis, the tree cannot produce the resources it needs to survive.
Neem oil is a vegetable oil that is a natural pesticide and repellent. It also interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to grow and lay eggs.
Its main component is azadirachtin, which can repel and reduce the feeding of nematodes. Other components of neem oil kill insects by hindering their ability to feed.
Spray it over your tree every other week or even weekly. This way, you can preserve your loved trees without bugs like the 3 mentioned before.
Bugs like Emerald tree borers, spider mites, and Gypsy moths can appear in your tree anytime and kill it in a flash. Knowing some of their characteristics will make it easy to identify what you are dealing with before it is too late.
If you want to avoid dealing with them, try applying neem oil as a repellent. Remember, if it is too late and bugs damage your tree, you should contact Pro M Tree Service. It will be a pleasure to restore your tree to a healthy state!
