Diagnosing And Treating Bark Beetles
Although you may work hard to maintain your trees and keep them healthy, sometimes pests invade despite your best efforts. Bark beetles are a common pest that can attack a variety of trees. They mainly infest conifers, but some deciduous trees like oak and buckeye trees, can also fall prey to the beetles. The following guide can help you spot a beetle problem.
Identifying the Pests
Identification of the beetles is relatively simple. They are about ¼ inch long – similar in size to a rice grain. Most varieties are brown or black. Like all beetles, they have segments wings and antennae. You may see them climbing over the tree trunk. If a piece of bark peels away, their larvae are typically obvious. They appear as off-white grubs with brown heads.
Spotting the Damage
Sometimes the damage caused by the pests is apparent before you actually spot a beetle. Damage can occur on any portion of the trunk, from near ground level to the top. The type of damage left behind depends on the specific bark beetle species. Common signs include the following:
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Scooped out tunnels on or under the bark.
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Loose and flaking bark that falls off the tree easily.
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Small holes in the wood that resemble a buckshot pattern.
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Small holes that bleed sap or develop a foam-like residue.
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Death to small branches that have holes or tunnels indicative of bark beetles.
Preventing the Pests
Bark beetles can be hard to control. To save the tree, the best option is to make sure it is in otherwise good health. Water it as needed so it doesn't undergo drought stress. Prune as needed to remove the most damaged branches on the tree, as well to improve air circulation and general vigor.
bark beetles often attack a tree after bark damage has already occurred, which provides an opening for the infestation. Guard against damage to the bark by mowing carefully around trees. You may also want to wrap the trunks of young trees with tree wrap in winter to prevent winter splitting from occurring, which can welcome the pests.
Insecticides rarely work on bark beetles because their thick carapace and habit of burrowing protects them. Instead, the tree must be kept in good health so it can survive a minor infestation. If this doesn't work, you may need to call a tree removal company. Then, plant with a tree variety that isn't as prone to the beetles that inhabit your area.
For more information on how to deal with bark beatles, visit Arborcare Tree Service