Trees are beautiful and majestic pieces of nature that provide a variety of benefits for the Earth and people. Unfortunately, trees are vulnerable to the destruction caused by a variety of bugs. These bugs can damage a tree and even kill it. Not only can this diminish the look of a property, but it can also make the tree a danger when it is near people or structures.
These destructive bugs can be stopped if action is taken early enough. However, it can be hard to tell the difference between a regular bug that likes to crawl around a tree and the various bugs that will feed on the tree. This makes it important for property owners to familiarize themselves with the three main categories of bugs that are dangerous to trees.
Chewing Insects
Chewing insects, also known as defoliating insects, can damage the tree from the outside. These insects tend to eat the foliage of the tree. When they attack the leaves, it compromises the tree's ability to get nutrients from the sun. If chewing insects are suspected, it is important to contact a professional for plant health care services.
These chewing insects can eat away all the leaves from a tree. They also attack the buds and flowers on the tree that can hinder its ability to grow properly. Some chewing insects will attack the fruit of any type of fruit-bearing tree. These insects include Japanese beetles, tent caterpillar, gypsy moths, and others.
These creatures are more easily detected than most tree-damaging insects. Early signs of a problem can include leaves with holes or even missing leaves on a tree. Minor defoliation usually will not kill a healthy tree. However, repeated attacks over several years can reduce the tree's ability to grow and may result in the death of the tree.
