Learn About Tree Pest and Disease Management
The key to protecting your trees against the damaging effects of diseases is determining the issues source. With our tree care solution, you can count on our certified staff to diagnose the problems affecting your tree. Here are some common tree diseases, pests, and insects in Nova Scotia currently:
Japanese Beetle ( Popillia japonica )
These beetles east the leaves of over 300 different types of plants, flowers and fruits. Japanese beetles have spread throughout Canadian provinces first found in BC in July 2017. Beetle larvae live underground and feed exclusively on the roots of turf and grasses, leaving patches of brown grass in otherwise healthy lawns. Adult beetles emerge around June when temperatures reach 20c. Easily identified with a rounded oval shape and hard shiny green exoskeleton with brown wings.
Signs and symptoms of a Japanese bettle include:
- Large beetle masses over plants
- Brown grass patches around plants
- Defoliation of trees
Defoliation will result in the dieback of twigs and branches. It will also make affected trees vulnerable to disease and other pests as they spend their energy reserves to regrow leaves in mid-summer.
Tent Caterpillar ( Lasiocampidea )
The Tent caterpillar can cause severe damage, ofter nearly defoliating the entire tree.
Widespread tent caterpillar outbreaks occur approximately every 10 years, usually lasting 3-6 years.
Signs and symptoms of a Japanese bettle include:
* Large webs* Silk trails * Defoliation of trees
Red Belt Fungus ( Fomitopsis pinicola )
Also known as red - belted conk. Red belt fungus destroys cellulose while other brown rot species can also contribute significantly to forestry loses. Particularly at sites where the bark has been removed as might occur when branches are removed. The fungus is saprobic and can also be parasitic, causing heart rot in living trees and brown rot in dead trees.
Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis )
EAB is a metallic wood boring beetle native to East Asia.
If your ash tree has been infested with the emerald ash borer you will see several signs and symptoms including crown dieback, bark deformities, D- shaped holes, woodpecker feeding holes and yellow folliage.
Prevention of an emerald ash borer infestation in a new area is the most effective way to reduce long term impacts.
* Do not move firewood
* Learn to identify signs of EAB
* Report any sightings
Black Knot ( Apiosporina morbosa )
The disease is found mostly everywhere in the Maritimes, wherever its numerous hosts grow. It can cause considerable branch and twig mortality, sever stunting and death of trees. Mostly attacking fruit trees. Infection occurs only in current year twigs in the spring and a slight swelling is usually evident by fall. Cut all infected twigs, sterilize all equipment and burn the cut pieces.
Fir Broom Rust (Melampsorella caryophyllacearum) Witches broom
This rust fungus requires two different hosts to complete its life cycle. The disease remains inside the broom, infecting any new shoots and needles as they develop. Adequate control can be achieved by removal of the trees with the stem brooms and pruning of diseased branches.