Gruett’s Proclamation from GRUETT on Vimeo.

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Most damage done by borers is caused by the larvae or immature stage of the insect. Eggs are typically laid in bark crevices, branch junctions or near open wounds. When the eggs hatch the small larvae chew their way through the bark to the point where the wood and bark meet. This section of wood contains the living nutritious tissues on which most borer larvae feed. These tissues, called xylem and phloem, serve as the trees’ transport system to move water and nutrients up from the roots to the leaves, and sugars from the leaves down to the roots.

When these tissues are damaged by borers the tree loses its ability to transport nutrients and also reduces its ability to respond to the borer. It is incredibly important to keep a trees’ vigor up to reduce both its attractiveness and it’s susceptibility to borers. In many cases, borers also carry diseases, such as Dutch Elm Disease that can infect the tissues in the tree and increase the rate of decline.

Borer Management

Unfortunately, most borer infestations go unnoticed until external signs of damage begin. Damage is not usually visible until after at least one year of infestation, when exit holes of the adult are seen in bark and when dieback occurs in the tree due to the disruption of the transport system. At this point a tree needs help to recover from the damage.

Two approaches can be taken to reduce the impact of the borer and increase the chance for the tree to overcome the situation. The first approach is to increase the vigor of the tree. This is done by identifying the stress factor(s) that contributed to the initial decline of the tree and take action to fix it. The other is the use of systemic pesticides.

Remember that here at Gruett We Speaks Tree; and based off the overall situation the tree is under we administer the best treatments possible.

Many species of scales are highly parasitized by tiny wasp parasites. Pin-sized holes in the wax are the only evidence of parasitism since most of these wasps are hard to see. Scale crawlers are also preyed upon by numerous beneficial insects.

IDENTIFICATION

To the naked eye, spider mites look like tiny, moving dots; however, you can see them easily with a 10X hand lens. Spider mites live in colonies, mostly on the undersurfaces of leaves; a single colony may contain hundreds of individuals. The presence of webbing is an easy way to distinguish them from all other types of mites and small insects such as aphids and thrips, which can also infest leaf undersides.

Adult mites have eight legs and an oval body with two red eyespots near the head end. Females usually have a large, dark blotch on each side of the body and numerous bristles covering the legs and body. Immature mites resemble adults (except they are much smaller), and the newly hatched larvae have only six legs. The other immature stages have eight legs. Eggs are spherical and translucent, like tiny droplets, becoming cream colored before hatching.

LIFE CYCLE

In some parts of California, spider mites may feed and reproduce all year on plants that retain their green leaves throughout the winter. In colder areas and on deciduous trees that drop their leaves, webspinning mites overwinter as red or orange mated females under rough bark scales and in ground litter and trash. They begin feeding and laying eggs when warm weather returns in spring.

Spider mites reproduce rapidly in hot weather and commonly become numerous in June through September. If the temperature and food supplies are favorable, a generation can be completed in less than a week. Spider mites prefer hot, dusty conditions and usually are first found on trees or plants adjacent to dusty roadways or at margins of gardens. Plants under water stress also are highly susceptible. As foliage quality declines on heavily infested plants, female mites catch wind currents and disperse to other plants. High mite populations may undergo a rapid decline in late summer when predators overtake them, host plant conditions become unfavorable, and the weather turns cooler as well as following rain.

DAMAGE

Mites cause damage by sucking cell contents from leaves. A small number of mites usually isn’t reason for concern, but very high populations can damage plants, especially herbaceous ones. At first, the damage shows up as a stippling of light dots on the leaves; sometimes the leaves take on a bronze color. As feeding continues, the leaves turn yellowish or reddish and drop off. Often, large amounts of webbing cover leaves, twigs, and fruit. Damage is usually worse when compounded by water stress.

Spider mites have many natural enemies that often limit populations. Adequate irrigation is important, because water-stressed plants are most likely to be damaged. Broad-spectrum insecticide treatments for other pests frequently cause mite outbreaks, so avoid these pesticides when possible.

Damage

Aphids will suck out the sap from leafs, branches or any part of the tree where their mouth will be able to penetrate to the phloem (part of plant that moves nutrients). They will excrete ‘Honeydew’, which are clear viscous drops that will leave a medium for sooty mold to grow on and for other insects to eat. The leaves of some plants will be stunted, shriveled, or curled as a result of high populations. Many species are green, but may be white, yellow, brown, red, black, or mottled

Aphid Predators

There are wasps’ worms and lady bugs that are all predators of aphids and other harmful insects. The natural predators are successful in controlling and preventing outbreaks, but just like their prey they are susceptible to pesticides. In most cases it is better to allow for the natural pests to control the infestation.

If you’re unsure about what form of pest control to use contact Gruett.

IDENTIFICATION

Adult lace bugs have an elaborately sculptured thorax and forewings that form an expanded cover over their body. The adult thorax and forewings have tiny clear cells that form a lacelike covering, hence the name “lace bugs.” Adults are about 1/12 inch (2 mm) long, oval-shaped insects with a dark (black or brownish) head and thorax. Their abdomen, antennae, legs, and wing covers have both dark and light (brown, orangish, or white) areas.

Eggs will be found on the lower leaf surface, covered with black, sticky excrement. To the naked eye, eggs may resemble grains of black pepper. Beneath the excrement, eggs are oblong, yellowish, and have a white rim around the cap from which nymphs will later emerge. The nymphs are mostly black or dark brown with elaborate spiny projections, pale appendages, and (on the back of older nymphs) pale areas where wings are developing.

DAMAGE

Lace bugs do not feed on fruit. They suck leaf sap, feeding in groups on the underside of leaves. A colony of lace bugs feeding causes faint pale green to yellowish blotches visible on both the lower and upper leaf surfaces. Black, shiny specks of excrement appear on the under leaf surface where lace bugs occur. As lace bugs continue feeding, large brown or tan dead blotches develop on leaves. Heavily damaged leaves become dry, may curl, and drop prematurely.

Low lace bug populations do not damage trees. Severe leaf damage results in sunburned limbs and fruit when leaves fall from trees. Tree stress from defoliation reduces subsequent fruit yields. Severe lace bug damage has not been a reported problem on camphor trees.

What should I do?

Tolerate low populations of lace bugs, which are harmless to trees and provide food for predaceous insects that may help to prevent pest outbreaks. The best defense is to keep trees healthy, by providing good soil drainage, maintaining a thick layer of organic mulch beneath the trees canopies, and watering deeply and consistently. Remember that we want to conserve natural enemies by choosing the appropriate control.

If you what to know more contact Gruett today!!!