Now that the summer is over, many homeowners feel like bugs, insects, and pests are gone for the year too. Unfortunately, there are several other kinds of pests that will damage your trees in the fall time. Continue reading to learn which tree pests to be on the lookout for this season, as well as, helpful tips for getting rid of them.

Noblesville Tree Service 317-537-9770 — Fully-camouflaged bagworm moth in caterpillar form on the bark of a Birch tree.

Autumn Season Insects That Can Kill Your Trees:

⇛ Bagworms (Psychidae Lepidoptera)

If you are seeing silky cobwebs in your trees, you could have a bagworm problem. Other signs include chewed leaves, foliage loss, and dead branches. Burrowed bagworms weave protective cocoons made of silk and debris to live in, and feed off of tree leaves and needles. Common targets include Junipers, Cedars, Spruces, Oak, Elm, Willow, Birch, and Maple trees. To eliminate a bagworm infestation, you will need some elbow grease. It requires manual removal of all the silk bags, followed by an insecticide treatment for prevention purposes.

⇛ Fall Webworms (Hyphantria cunea)

Fall webworms are a common nuisance for fruit trees like Black walnut, Mulberry, Sweetgum, Pecan, Wild cherry, and Persimmon. They are tree nesters that create webs at the tips of branches, and feed on the tree’s leaves. Foliage loss and the present of these silky webs are common signs of a fall webworm infestation. To get rid of these pests, you would need to remove all of the worms manually and then have your trees sprayed with an insecticide.

⇛ Spruce Spider Mites (Oligonychus ununguis)

Another type of tree mite that commonly affects trees in the fall are Spruce Spider mites. From the name, you would think that they only affect Spruce trees, but they actually target Arborvitae, Fir, Hemlock, and Junipers, as well as spruce trees. They feed on sap and leave behind little silk webs. To get rid of a spider mite problem, try applying a dormant oil to your trees.

⇛ Oakworm Moths (Anisota virginiensis)

On the subject of Oak tree pests, Oakworm moths are another common nuisance to watch out for this fall. You can identify this infestation by looking for yellow bumps underneath the tree leaves. These are moth eggs. These have to be manually removed, and then the tree requires an insecticide treatment. Fortunately, if you do have an Oakworm moth infestation, the fall time is the best time of year to treat your trees.

⇛ Oak Leaf Gall Mites (Pyemotes herfsi)

Biting oak leaf gall mites, also known as itch mites, are not an infestation you want for your trees. Not only do they cause browned, dried out foliage, they can fall off the tree and onto you, making your skin red and itchy too! Interesting enough, they actually eat the larvae of other tree pests affecting your tree, however, their feeding leads to major tree decline too. If you come into contact with Oak mites, wash your skin immediately. To treat a tree, you would need to speak with a trusted arborist.

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Call 317-537-9770 for professional tree service in Noblesville, Indiana. We offer a wide range of professional tree services for residential and commercial properties. Ask us about our competitive pricing and our tree service coupons! And please feel free to contact us anytime for free estimates, advice, general tree removal information, and more. Call 317-537-9770 to request a free estimate, today.

❶ Asian Citrus Psyllid

This tiny gray-brown insect is a threat to citrus trees, and has affected various regions all around the world. Their most common targets include orange, tangerine, lemon, and kumquat trees. While it feeds, it injects a toxin into the plant tissues, causing leaves to curl up, discolor, and even turn black. They also carry and transmit a disease called “citrus greening”, also known as “huanglongbing” (HLB). It is one of the most fatal citrus tree diseases.

❷ Japanese Beetles

Accidently imported from Japan in a shipment of irises over 100 years ago, this beetle feeds on more than 400 plant species in the United States. Their feasting leads to skeletonized foliage. Some of their favorite targets include pin oak, linden, roses, hibiscus, grapes, raspberries, crabapples, crape myrtle, sassafras, Japanese maple, and Norway maple. Although they rarely kill trees, they can take out entire lawns and gardens.

❸ Asian Longhorned Beetle

Similar to the Japanese beetle, this beetle was first discovered not too long ago in New York. They are highly destructive since they tunnel into trees and cut off their water and nutrient distribution systems. Mid-to-late summer and fall are prime seasons for Asian longhorned beetles. Common targets include birch, willow, horse chestnut, elm, goldenrain tree, katsura tree, and maple.

❺ Emerald Ash Borer

Imported from Asia and first discovered in Detroit 15 years ago, this bright metallic-green beetle is a devastating tree pest that targets solely ash trees. Their larva bore deep into the tree bark and feed underneath, which creates tell-tale L-shaped holes in the trunk. This activity interrupts the tree’s ability to distribute water and nutrients, which leads to crown dieback and bark splitting.

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Indiana Tree Pests to Watch Out For This Fall