Cottony maple scale in Fenton can be a problem not just for the trees they infest but also for cars, patio furniture, or anything else that is under the tree the scale insect is feeding on. Cottony maple scale causes damage by feeding on the sap of a tree. A particularly troublesome side effect that Fenton homeowners experience is caused by the honeydew that the scale insect exudes from its body as it feeds on a tree. The honeydew drops…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is launching a new “Pests and Diseases” webpage. The new page lists all pest and disease programs managed by APHIS as part of its mission to protect American agriculture and natural resources. On the new page, users can search by type (plant, animal), keyword (insect, beetle, weeds), or by the specific pest or disease (Japanese beetle, spotted lanternfly). You can also scroll through the page, which lists the…
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development contacted Owen Tree Service to set up an advanced training seminar covering invasive pests that have, or could, threaten Michigan’s environment. As a result, approximately 30 Owen Tree Service & Owen Tree Service-Herbicide Division employees had the opportunity to attend two seminars given by Lauren Walsh and Caitlin Burkman from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. The majority of the morning was spent with Lauren discussing invasive pests threatening Michigan….
Whether we like it or not, another winter storm season is quickly approaching. According to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, ice storms routinely cause millions of dollars annually in property damage. While we can’t keep winter away, some advanced preparation now can minimize or even prevent the damage that could occur to your trees over the winter. Ice storms are one of the more devastating weather events Mother Nature can throw at us in the winter. Having properly pruned…
The pine spittlebug isn’t especially damaging to trees, in most cases, but is an interesting insect to run across. Host plants include Scotch pine, Austrian pine, white pine and all spruce and fir trees. Spittlebug nymphs and adults suck sap from the tree and form a protective covering of froth around themselves. Unless they are exceptionally abundant on a tree, they seldom cause more than a discolored or slightly deformed branch tip. The worst problem is that Diplodia tip blight…
As our landscapes come out of their winter hibernation so do the insects that like to feed on our trees and shrubs. Here are five common insect pests that our arborists are looking for in the early spring. Euonymus Scale Crawlers start to hatch in mid to late May. A 2nd generation will hatch out in late July to early August. Foliar treatments that target the newly hatched crawlers is one of the most effective methods to control Euonymus Scale….
I think everyone looks forward to April, I know I sure do. Everyday the landscape is more and more alive. About the only thing I don’t like is that on the warmer April days the mosquitoes start to make their presence known. While their bites are mostly just a nuisance, I could live without them. I guess, for the most part, we’re lucky in Michigan because we don’t have too many mosquito-born diseases. At least not as many as a…