Good Bugs & Bad Bugs: Integrating Pest Management Into Property Care
In our job, we encounter many insects, some are good guys and some are bad guys. Recently, bad guys have started to infiltrate our northern climates due to fluctuating weather and warmer winters. Over the last five years, the Southern Pine Beetle has expanded its presence in the Northeast. It is one of the most destructive insect pests to pines in the US and it was recently found in western Rhode Island.
Low winter temperatures have historically impeded this beetle from infesting the conifers in the Northeast, but a Columbia University Study predicts climate change will allow the insect to push up the Atlantic coast all the way to Nova Scotia over the next two years.
Beetles are usually attracted to weak trees under 6” diameter, but as beetle populations increase, they are attacking larger, stronger trees. They will attack most varieties of pine and also Norway Spruce.
As your personal arborist, we will be on the lookout for symptoms associated with beetle infestation. Things to look for are discolored needles that fade and fall off, white pitch tubes or sawdust at the base of the tree, and small emergence holes in the bark.
As with most pests, it is best to be proactive and stay ahead of them. We have many solutions that we would be glad to present to you.
If you are concerned about your trees and would like to schedule a pest evaluation, please give us a call at 203-375-0553.
by Stacey Marcell, Licensed Arborist
Stacey Marcell, owner of Northeast Horticultural Services, has a profound passion for the environment and the cultivation of healthy, attractive and sustainable trees and landscapes. Her dedication to the environment and deep love for nature led her to form Northeast Horticultural Services. She hopes to educate people to be good stewards of the earth and looks to form lasting relationships with clients so she can watch her landscapes grow to their full potential.
Arborist #S-4454