Did you know that grubs are larvae of Japanese beetles and other beetles? They feed on the roots of the grass causing the grass to die. You can tell you have grubs by pulling on the grass: if it rolls up like carpet, that is a sign. When it does, take a close look and…
Lyme disease, and the blacklegged (“deer”) tick that is its common carrier, has gotten our full attention over the past thirty years, and for good reason: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimate there are now about 300,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. each year. When left untreated, Lyme disease brings significant…
The leaf-eating Gypsy Moth caterpillar (Lymantria dispar) is one of the most invasive and destructive pests in the United States, and has killed or damaged millions of acres of trees. The past years’ of drought conditions in many regions of the country inhibited the fungus that is a natural predator of the Gypsy Moth larvae,…
Warm weather brings with it lots of good things including longer days spent enjoying our yards with our families. Unfortunately, more time spent outdoors also means an increased risk of contracting a tick-borne disease. The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that Illinois should be on the watch for a potentially severe tick season: “Health experts and…
Brood X cicadas are about 4 years late to the party. In Sterling and Reston, in Virginia, I have been seeing them by the thousands. These cool, creepy insects will not damage your trees. You might see some tips turning brown due to the female laying eggs in the tender young branches but most all…
Spring has sprung in New England. As many have heard, the Gypsy moth is going to be a problem in the metro west section of Massachusetts. This photo was taken in a park in Sherborn, Massachusetts, and it shows newly hatched Gypsy moth larvae. As you can see, they are just emerging from the egg casings and…
EAB has proven to be an expensive and unpredictable challenge to local shade tree commissions. We have a wide scope of offerings beginning with individual tree assessment, all the way up to comprehensive tree inventory and management plans for entire cities. Here’s a recent article highlighting actions by the Rutherford Shade Tree Department and the…
Wasp-like adults emerge sometime in May through July and oviposit eggs onto the underside of leaves. Other species of sawflies have been abundant this year so far. Larvae feed gregariously and skeletonize leavesas early instars, but eventually consume entire leaves except for tough mid-veins. Learn more about Dogwood on our website http://www.savatree.com/dogwood-tree.html …
What’s Happening in Your Neck of the Woods: Gypsy Moth Infestation Areas Affected Most concentrated infestations in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Varying density of infestations reported in Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Isolated infestations in Utah, Oregon, Washington, and California. Trees Impacted Prefers oaks, though will also eat many other tree and shrub species…
Make no mistake: It’s springtime, and the ticks are out to get us. Though the adult blacklegged tick — what most of us refer to as the “deer” tick — are active throughout the fall and winter, the warmer temperatures send these critters out from their cold -weather shelters of leaf and woodpiles in search…
