Learning how to treat a tree for insect infestation proves crucial. Tree-dwelling insects pose a risk to your property and personal health. Termite infestations easily migrate from trees to wooden surfaces in your house, while weevils quickly deteriorate the health of trees in your yard. Wood-borers, a generalized term for categorizing wood-dwelling insects, prove challenging to identify because of their small size.
As wood borers take months or years to infect trees fully, you may not even realize you have an initial infestation until it’s too late. Stifling stubborn wood-boring pests requires observation, identification, and treatment of affected areas. Wood-boring insects devastate landscapes and wreak havoc on wooden furniture and surfaces. Continue reading to learn the best methods for how to treat a tree for insect infestation.
Identify Damaged Trees
Wood-boring pests leave behind distinct clues. Inspect your trees around the tree trunks and branches, where wood-boring insects most commonly reside. Insects such as moth caterpillars and powderpost beetles lay eggs under the tree’s surface, leaving barely visible holes behind. Another sign of wood-boring insects includes small sawdust remains around the gaps created by wood-boring insects.
Wood-boring insects exclusively select dying host trees as their nests. Signs of infested trees include broken branches and chipped bark. Wood-boring insects commonly make homes in trees severely affected by weather damage. Emergency tree removal in Alpharetta by Georgia Tree Company prevents dying trees from spreading infestations to nearby healthy trees.
Treatment Options for Insect Infestation
Without proper treatment, wood-boring insects destroy tree roots and cause widespread damage. After confirming the existence of wood-boring insect infestations, explore effective treatment options for eliminating unwanted pests. The most popular treatment options for ridding trees of insect infestation include:
Insecticide Application
The most effective treatment for exterminating wood-boring insects utilizes pesticide applications to kill existing larvae and, hopefully, save the tree from further damage. Be cautious when using pesticides, as toxic chemicals can be harmful. Be careful not to thoroughly drench trees in pesticide solution, focusing only on areas most contaminated by insects. Spray the affected area, the trunk, branches, and trigs to ensure complete removal of insect infestation.
Manual Removal of Insect Infestation
If the chemicals of insecticide solutions prove too harsh, manual treatment options for infected trees also exist. Use metal scrappers or shovels to break away damaged wood areas. Any portion of the tree that appears infested should be cut out to kill insects and protect the life of your trees. If you find the manual removal of insects ineffective, it may be time to consider tree removal. Damaged trees pose serious safety risks of fallen branches and collapse.
Trust Georgia Tree Company to Save Your Trees
Georgia Tree Company provides professional tree services at an affordable price. We proudly served Alpharetta and the surrounding community with the highest-quality tree trimming and removal services. To learn more about how to treat a tree for insect infestation and tree trimming safety guidelines, contact us at Georiga Tree Company at 404-990-0010 to receive your free estimate!