Wood Boring Insects: A Threat to Alabama's Trees
Wood-boring insects are among the most destructive pests affecting ornamental trees and shrubs in Alabama, particularly in the Birmingham and Huntsville regions. These pests, predominantly the larvae of certain moths and beetles, tunnel and feed under the bark, damaging the living wood and disrupting water and sap-conducting tissues. This results in girdling, branch dieback, structural weakness, and eventually, the decline and death of affected plants.
Ace Tree Services is dedicated to helping Alabama residents understand the threats posed by wood-boring insects and the solutions we provide to eradicate the problem and protect your landscape.
Infestation and Damage from Wood Boring Insects
Wood borers rarely infest healthy plants in their natural environments. However, when trees or shrubs are transplanted into the landscape, stressors such as drought, soil compaction, sun scald, or injuries can weaken them, making them more susceptible to attack. Adults may locate suitable egg-laying sites by responding to volatile chemicals emitted by stressed trees.
Several species of borers can infest landscape plants in Alabama. While some are attracted to a range of hosts, most attack only certain types of trees and shrubs. It is crucial to know when the adults of each species are active and which plants are vulnerable for treatments to be effective. Some common wood-boring insects in Alabama include:
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Peachtree borer and lesser peachtree borer: These pests target peach, plum, cherry, and other Prunus species, including both fruit and ornamental varieties. They can cause significant damage to the tree trunk and branches, leading to a decline in the tree's health.
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Dogwood borer: This species prefers flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and can cause dieback of branches, as well as the expulsion of coarse, sawdust-like frass from cracks in the bark.
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Southern pine beetles: Active in the spring, these beetles attack weakened and lightning-damaged pine trees. They feed on the phloem tissue under the bark, and their infestations can spread to nearby healthy trees.
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Zimmerman pine moth: This moth's larva is a borer that attacks pine tree trunks and lateral branches. While it rarely kills trees, it can weaken them and cause branches to break off during heavy ice, snow, or wind.
How Ace Tree Services Can Help
Ace Tree Services offers comprehensive solutions to protect your landscape from wood-boring insects in the Birmingham and Huntsville areas. Our team of experts will accurately identify the type of wood-boring insects infesting your trees and shrubs and develop a tailored treatment plan to effectively address the problem. We also provide preventative measures and ongoing monitoring to ensure the long-term health of your landscape.
Trust Ace Tree Services to safeguard your landscape from the damaging effects of wood-boring insects. Our environmentally friendly and effective treatment solutions will help keep your trees and shrubs healthy and thriving. Call an ISA certified arborist from Ace Tree Service at (205) 332-7757!
