Upon first glance the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) appears similar to a butterfly; colorful and flashy, but don’t be fooled, this is an exotic, invasive pest which poses a serious threat to agricultural and landscape plants. The lanternfly is not a true fly but technically is a planthopper and is native to China. Spotted…
Black vine weevils, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, are primarily pests of species in the genera Taxus and Rhododendron. The weevils also target azaleas, mountain laurel and Euonymous. Adult black vine weevils feed on the leaf and needle margins, leaving distinct half-circular notches. Larvae appear similar to grubs you would find in your lawn except they are less “C” shaped…
Conifer bark beetles are tree pests of the genera Dendroctonus, Ips, Scolytus who prey primarily on pines (Pinus) but also additional evergreens such as fir (Abies), spruce (Picea), arborvitae (Thuja), others. Trees that are already under stress from drought, insufficient root area or damage, transplanting or disease are at higher risk for a bark beetle infestation. Young, healthy trees…
Researchers at the University of Georgia have successfully cryogenically frozen germplasm from hemlock trees being wiped out around the country by the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. This may be the first step in eliminating these invasive tree pests. Their method includes a new way of cloning the few trees they have found that are actually fighting off…
The large aspen tortrix, Choristoneura conflictana, is in the category of tree pests known as defoliators or leaf rollers. Its principal target host is the quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, and the insect’s range coincides with that of the tree for the most part. The range extends from Nova Scotia south and west into northeastern and northcentral…
Since the discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Michigan on 2002 tens of millions of ash trees have died or been removed as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread of these tree pests and create quarantined zones. The result is a large supply of wood which in and of itself has needs;…
The eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus simplex, is native to North America but is a pest to the tamarack (or larch), Larix laricina. The beetles colonize the phloem of the main stem, exposed roots and larger branches of one of the very few species of deciduous needled trees. Beetles aggregate on stumps, fallen trees and standing trees, burrow through…
Thousand Canker Disease (TCD) is the result of a tiny bark beetle which burrows in the bark and creates large and multitudinous galleries, making these trees susceptible to fungal disease and canker formation by creating an entry point in the bark. TCD earned its name from the huge number of cankers associated with dead limbs and…
The goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus, (GSOB) is an invasive pest found currently contributing to oak mortality in San Diego County, CA. This flatheaded borer is newly introduced to California yet poses a significant risk to its oak tree population. The pest is actually naturally occurring in southeastern Arizona, and a related species can be found…
Ips calligraphus, the six-spined Ips, and Ips pini, the pine engraver beetle, are tree pests of great economic and environmental importance. These pests are commonly found in infesting ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, stands in Montana and have been found across north America. Populations target hosts which have been weakened due to previous infestation by another pest or…
