3 Most Dangerous Tree Pests
Some tree pests only do minor damage such as defoliation, while others can actually kill or cause irreversible damage to your trees in the matter of a couple of days. That’s why it is so important to have your trees inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist at the first sight of any kind of tree pest infestation and routinely as a preventative measure.
A couple of the most dangerous tree pests in Georgia are:
Ambrosia Beetle.
Ambrosia beetles produce ambrosia fungus that is deposited within your trees as they excavate tunnels throughout the sapwood that serve as food for other larvae and adult beetles. Once these beetles have infested your trees, it can be very problematic and hard to address. The pesticide used to control and treat these infestations must be timed exactly when they fly. Re application can sometimes be necessary as timing their flight intervals can be tricky. Severe infestations will require the tree to be removed to prevent the spread of the pest.
Southern Pine Beetle.
Named the most destructive insect of them all as this beetle must kill the host tree in order to reproduce. This 3 mm beetle causes rapid loss of habitats, forests and watersheds. They do not discriminate and will take down even the healthy, resistant trees. The most recent outbreak resulted in $1.5 billion dollars of economic damage. They live in the in the inner bark of the trees and can usually be identified by the pitch tubes on the outer bark. The SPB also carries blue-stain fungi, which blocks the water flow within the trees causing eventual decline.
Asian Ambrosia Beetle.
If you have cherry or Japanese Maple trees on your property, be sure to look out for the Asian ambrosia beetle. They were accidentally imported from overseas on some peach trees in 1974 and since then has costs millions of dollars worth of plant and tree loss. These little insects can take down large trees very quickly, causing nursery and homeowners to spend extra just to prevent the infestation from beginning. They emerge in spring and bores into limbs about 1-2 inches thick, leaving nothing but sawdust behind.
If you suspect your trees are in danger of any of these common tree pests in Georgia, please give us a call using the link below to be connected with an ISA Certified Arborist for a tree evaluation. Remember, the best treatment is prevention!
