COMMON INSECTS THAT DIMINISH SHRUBS AND TREES

• JAPANESE BEETLES
  These insects indiscriminately eat parts of the foliage and even the flowers sometimes. Their damage appears like little holes in the leaves. They often attack in late June when the grubs have turned to adult beetles. In a worst-case scenario, these beetles can defoliate a tree in 3 – 4 days. You can lure beetles away from your landscape with beetle bags which are a combination of cultural and chemical control.
• APHIDS
  Aphids are the number one insect in shrub and tree problems. It is often found in colonies, especially on the first lush green growth. They suck the sap from the stems. They can be controlled by washing off stems with water or spraying with an insecticide containing Acephate or Malathion.
• SPIDER MITES
  Generally, spider mites do not kill plants by themselves but those plants will become prone to other problems. The infestation of spider mites typically begins to make the landscape look dull in appearance. This is true as they suck the plant dry until the shrubs and trees then turn to a dull yellow. Chemical control is generally the best option when it comes to spider mites.
• SCALES
  These insects are often mistaken for disease because they appear like cocoon bumps along the stems of plants. They stick themselves to the plant and suck on the juices, drying it out and causing severe damage. Scales are perceived to be the hardest insects to control. If left untreated, they will infest the landscape and devour any plant they want. Chemical control is the best option available.
• BAGWORMS
  These are caterpillars that make very noticeable spindle-shaped bags on a variety of trees and shrubs. They attack both deciduous trees and evergreens, but they are most damaging to Junipers. A large population of bagworms can speedily strip plants of their foliage and eventually lead to death. If only a few shrubs are trees are infected, picking the bags off by hand and disposing of them may serve as a momentary control measure. This approach is most effective during fall-winter or early springs before their eggs must have hatched
• BLACK VINE WEEVIL
  The damage caused by weevils appears on the foliage in the form of “C” shape feeding patterns. When the eggs of weevils hatch, they appear as legless grubs that feed on the roots of the plants. Weevil grub feeding is popularly known to have the capability to take out an entire plant even before you begin to see the damage on the leaves, while the weevil adult feeding generally leaves the landscape dull and unappealing. Chemical control is the best alternative.
• BRONZE BIRCH BORER
  When Borer severely infests a birch, holes where they have entered the tree are visible on the part of the trees that have less source of sunlight. The early stages of the birch borer show early brown colors in foliage and leaf drop. The branches of trees usually drop when the damage becomes severe. Long-term damage will cause the loss of limbs and eventually kill the tree. Trees without a Pest Management Program will only live for about 15-20 years. If a tree is infested, a systematic injection into the tree or soil will help control the insect.