On a day-to-day basis, you might not give much thought to the health of the trees on your property. And indeed, it’s easy to miss the initial signs of an insect infestation, like small holes in the bark or less-than-vibrant foliage. But if these problems aren’t detected and treated as early as possible, then the infestation will only get worse. As a result, you could be faced with the costly removal of your trees. It’s always best to have a certified arborist periodically monitor the health of your trees.
Signs of Chewing Insects
Chewing insects include the oakworm, tent caterpillar, gypsy moth, leaf beetle, and leaf miner. The main characteristic of these types of insects is that they enjoy munching on leaves and needles. The result is defoliation, which can range from minor to life-threatening for the tree. Inspect your trees regularly and watch out for unsightly holes in the leaves and the total removal of the leaf tissue. The unseasonable loss of leaves is another indicator. You might also notice the insects themselves or their nests in the tree.
Signs of Boring Insects
Boring insects are highly destructive to trees and shrubs. Moreover, the signs of this type of infestation can be extremely difficult to spot, particularly during its early stages. This is because most of the damage occurs on the inside of the tree. Boring insects tunnel inside the trunk because they feast on the inner bark. The tunnels they leave behind adversely affect the tree’s ability to transport nutrients and water. Watch out for the loss of leaves, small holes on the trunk or branches, and debris that looks like sawdust. Some examples of borers include weevils, bark beetles, bronze birch borer, and the emerald ash borer.
The certified arborists at Complete Landscaping have extensive experience with tree disease identification and management. Our arborists adhere to strict quality and safety guidelines to ensure you receive nothing less than the best. Contact our office in Tucson at (520) 323-8918 to ask about our tree services.