The trees on your property offer shade in the summer, shelter in the winter, and beauty all year, but a professional arborist knows that even the tiniest herbivores can threaten and destroy even the mightiest oak. This is why it’s essential to be vigilant about removing and repelling tree-feeding insects from your land. Below, McAllister Tree Service, based in Cornelia, GA, shares a few of the most common tree-threatening pests.

Arborist Shares 5 Tree-Threatening Insects Found in Georgia

1. Lace Bugs

Lace bugs are brown insects with spiny, lace-like exoskeletons and they fall into the sucking insects category of tree pests. This means that they suck nutrients from tree leaves, leaving behind white or yellow discoloration. While just a few lace bugs won’t cause significant damage, many of them feeding on a tree over several seasons can permanently damage it.

2. Whiteflies

Another tree sucking insect is the whitefly. Like lace bugs, these white-winged insects consume the sap and moisture from tree leaves. They excrete a sticky-sweet substance, which attracts other insects and can facilitate mold growth, so it’s best to keep these pests away from your property.

3. Tent Caterpillars

Tent caterpillars are the larval form of the Moth Malacosoma. They are social insects, often working together to build large web ‘tents’ among tree branches. These are leaf-eating pests and, in large numbers, can cause significant damage to your trees.

4. Bagworms

Bagworms are another easily-recognizable tree-threatening pest, as they build unique bag-like cocoons out of nearby plant material. They feed on both leaves and buds of trees and other plants and can cause significant damage.

5. Emerald Ash Borers

In recent years, the emerald ash borer has immigrated from Asia and is creating rising problems in the Eastern US. As the name implies, these beetle-like insects have a shimmery-green exoskeleton. The females lay eggs in crevices in trees, and it’s the larvae that creates so much damage, as they bore through the tree and feed on it. If you’re concerned about emerald ash borers on your property, call an arborist for a consultation.

Maintaining the health of the trees on your property requires knowledge and training, which is why McAllister Tree Service hires only the most qualified professionals. The arborists work hard to prevent pest infestations and can provide tree trimming and even tree removal when needed. For more information, call them today at (706) 778-7527 or visit the website.