Emerald Ash Borer and Other Tree Pests to Watch for This Spring in St. Cloud, MN

If you own a home or business in St. Cloud, Minnesota, you’ve probably heard of the emerald ash borer. This notorious pest is one of the biggest threats to your ash trees and causes substantial destruction in a short period of time. But that’s just one type of pest to be wary of. To keep your trees healthy and to get effective tree pest control to combat potential threats, you’ll want to be aware of other springtime pests.  

In the same way that many trees go into their dormant period during the winter, pests are less active during this time of year as well. But as temperatures rise, insects emerge. Worse still, they can easily target trees that have experienced damage during winter, or which might be otherwise vulnerable. It’s one reason Ludivig Tree Service recommends a springtime tree inspection. That way, homeowners and businesses in St. Cloud, MN can get ahead of invasive tree insects or take steps for tree disease prevention.  

4 Pests to Watch Out For 

As the days get longer and warmer and insects begin to appear, you’ll want to keep an eye out for pests in your trees. Unfortunately, many common pests operate below the surface of trees in St. Cloud, MN, which can make it more difficult to spot signs of their presence. With that in mind, here are four common tree pests to be wary of:  

• Emerald ash borer. This highly invasive insect poses a grave risk to your trees, having killed millions of trees already. Borers live and eat below the bark of a tree, making it hard to spot them. They can be identified by tiny D-shaped holes they leave in bark or light-colored spots from woodpeckers searching for them.  
• Spongy moth – This type of pest targets oaks and other hardwood trees. They eat leaves, substantially depleting a tree’s health and leaving it susceptible to all kinds of other problems. In spring, you may notice that your trees have lost their leaves or that there are egg masses on tree trunks.  
• Pine bark beetle – These beetles target pine trees and are especially attracted to trees in a weakened state. Once they’ve taken over a tree, it must typically be removed to prevent further spread. You may notice tiny holes in the bark or sawdust-like residue that signals their presence.   
• Two-lined chestnut borer – Borers also target trees that are stressed or in poor health, primarily oak trees. They can result in tree death, and they can also spread to nearby trees, posing an even greater risk. You may see leaves suddenly turn brown, with top-down symptoms as the pest progresses through the tree.  

In many cases, a healthy and flourishing tree is the best defense against invasive insects. Early tree inspections can also help to catch damage before it gets out of hand. To help your tree survive and thrive, turn to the experts at Ludivig Tree Service.  

Schedule Tree Pest Control  

If you think your tree is dealing with pests, disease, or threats, you’ll want to act right away. To learn more about our options for tree pest control or hazardous tree mitigation in St. Cloud, MN, contact Ludivig Tree Service now.