Wood-boring beetles cause tremendous damage to trees on your property. These insects get deep under the bark and tunnel through wood, creating damaged, unhealthy arbors that a tree service will likely need to remove. Below are a few ways to curb an infestation and save the greenery in your yard.

How to Stop Wood-Boring Beetles

Signs of Trouble

If you see beetles on the tree or in firewood nearby, you likely have an issue. While a few beetles don’t necessarily mean an infestation, their presence combined with other signs spells trouble, such as fine sawdust near round or oval holes in the wood. These holes are the beetles’ entrance and exit into the bark. You may also see piles of excrement and food nearby.

Sometimes beetles can be carried onto your property from other sources such as timber or wooden products like crates and pallets. Inspect any deliveries for signs of insects and make sure infested wood is kept away from trees. Try to use wood that has been kiln or air dried to limit moisture that beetles love.

In your home, inspect for excessive humidity, and lower moisture with good ventilation and drainage. For unfinished wood products and structures, ask your tree service for ways to treat the wood to create a barrier against beetles.

Tree Health

One of the easiest ways to keep trees safe from wood-boring beetles and other insects is to ensure they are healthy. Regular tree service from professional arborists provides early detection if there’s trouble. If there are signs of an infestation, products containing chlorpyrifos, lindane, or endosulfan have shown to eliminate boring insects and stop unwelcome critters from taking over. Sprays should be reapplied any time between three and ten weeks after the first round.

If tree service professionals find signs of beetles, they will spray the entire trunk as well as the branches of the tree in question. Anything on the bark will be eradicated, including larvae and adult insects. They may also add fumigants to stop adults from laying eggs.

For deeper treatments, insecticides made from dicrotophos, oxydemeton-methyl, or acephate can be injected into the cambial tissue, which is a common feeding area for these pests.

When you need professional, efficient tree service in Hawthorne, FL, call Crusader Tree Service and Property Maintenance. These licensed and insured arborists are equipped with the latest tools and knowledge, so they can keep every limb on your property healthy and safe all year long. For tree pruning and stump removal, give them a call at (352) 219-3264. Visit their website for more on their tree and property maintenance services.