ASH BARK BEETLE
Ash bark beetle
What is an ash bark beetle?
Ash bark beetles are tiny beetles measuring 2-3 mm long as adults.
What kind of damage is caused by ash bark beetle?
Ash bark beetles spend the winter in the base of ash trees. In the spring when females come out of hibernation, they tunnel under the bark excavating an area where they lay their eggs. Eggs hatch and the larvae feed under the bark. This feeding will often result in the death of branches and in some cases they can kill the tree.
What can I do to control ash bark beetle?
Because ash bark beetles are attracted to trees that are weakened or damaged, it is important to keep your tree healthy through regular pruning, watering and fertilizing.
ASH BORER
Ash Borer (Damage)
Ash Borer (Adult)
What is an ash borer?
Sometimes referred to as the lilac borer, ash borers belong to a group of moths, known as clearwing moths. The transparent wings and markings on the body give them a wasp like appearance, but these moths cannot sting.
What kind of damage is caused by the ash borer?
Similar to other wood boring insects, the larval stage of the ash borer damages the host tree through feeding. The earliest symptoms of damage will be the sudden wilting of succulent green shoots. Larvae typically start feeding on the sapwood of their host, eventually boring into the heartwood. Branches may be severely weakened at the feeding site. During dry periods in the late summer, terminal shoots may wilt. Severely affected trees may die.
How do I control ash borer?
As with most trees attacked by insect pests, those that are unhealthy are typically going to be infested first. Keeping your tree watered, fertilized and healthy is going to be less attractive to the ash borer.
BRONZE BIRCH BORER
Bronze birch borer adult
What is bronze birch borer?
The bronze birch borer is an insect native to the prairies. Adults are copper-bronze coloured, slender and about 7.5-11.5mm in length. The larva is not readily detectable since they spend their lives inside the stem of birch trees.
What kind of damage is caused by bronze birch borer?
The most susceptible varieties of birch are the European white birch and cut-leaf varieties, but native birch is also attacked. Damage is caused by excessive larval tunnelling under the bark which restricts sap flow. The result is an accumulation of sap above the tunnels causing swollen bands and ridges in the trunk. The first noticeable signs of borer attack are dieback of the upper branches, followed by a gradual decline of the tree health, and eventual death of the tree in two to three years. Another sign that your tree may be being attacked by the bronze birch borer is the characteristic ‘D’-shaped emergence holes in the tree trunk.
How do I control the bronze birch borer?
Proper water and fertilizing is the best line of defence against the bronze birch borer. Pruning and destroying infested branches is recommended to prevent further infestation. Use of systemic insecticides has been used in the past, but the results are inconclusive.
CONIFER WOOD BORERS
Longhorn beetle
Jewel beetle
What are conifer wood borers?
The two groups of insects of concern are the longhorn beetles (Cerambicidae) and the jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The longhorn beetles often have antennae which are longer than the body and can be quite large - up to 40mm. The Jewel beetles often have a metallic sheen and often have much shorter antennae then longhorn beetles.
What kind of damage is caused by Conifer wood borers?
The larvae of longhorn and jewel beetles cause extensive damage to coniferous trees and logs. Often trees that are under attack are already under stress from other factors. In both groups the larvae feed on the wood under the bark and this can cut off the sap flow in the tree.
What can I do to control for conifer wood borers?
Because these insects will typically attack unhealthy trees, the best way to protect your tree is to keep it healthy. Regular watering, fertilizing and pruning are the best preventative measures to reduce the risk of attack by these insects.
POPLAR BORER
Poplar borer adult
Poplar borer damage
What is a poplar borer?
Poplar borers are a type of longhorn beetle that attack poplar and willow trees. Adults are approximately 25mm long, and are dark grey with small orange spots on the wing covers. Their antennae are nearly as long as their body. Larvae are legless, white and about 30mm long.
What kind of damage is caused by poplar borer?
Feeding damage causes swelling on the trunk and larger branches. Infestations can also be recognized by emergence holes in the swollen areas as adult beetles chew through the bark and exit the tree. Woodpeckers, an important predator of poplar borers, also leave noticeable holes in the trunk as they drill for larvae. When trees are heavily infested they have a wet appearance or staining below points of attack. These repeated infestations are not likely to kill a large tree, but will weaken the tree making them susceptible to other diseases.
How can I control poplar borer?
Poplar borer populations are impacted by three naturally occurring parasites that help keep populations in check. Insecticides can be used to kill the eggs and adults but timing is crucial for effective treatments.
RED ELM WEEVIL
Red elm weevil adult
City of Edmonton
Red elm weevil damage
City of Edmonton
What is a red elm weevil?
The red elm weevil is a small, native beetle that feeds on elms. Females lay eggs inside elm twigs and the larvae, which are white and legless, feed under the bark causing the ends of twigs to die off. The larvae pupate under the bark, and then adults exit the twig leaving small exit holes.
What kind of damage is caused by red elm weevil?
Adult beetles are attracted to dead or dying elms. The main damage is caused by larvae feeding under the bark but adults feed on leaves.
How do I control red elm weevil?
To avoid an infestation of weevils, keep trees healthy and properly pruned.