An Overview of Destructive Wood Boring Insects

Wood boring insects can be incredibly destructive to your trees, burrowing underneath the bark. This can lead to sawdust and weakened trees, which may require extensive pruning or removal altogether. In order to keep your trees safe, read on. To learn more about what wood boring insects are, how to identify them and how regular tree maintenance in Newton, MA can help solve the problem.

What are wood boring insects?

Wood boring insects feed on the inner layers of tree wood. To do this, they bore holes into tree branches and trunks, which can significantly weaken your tree’s structure. When the larvae attack the tree’s water and nutrient transport system, it disrupts the tree’s ability to stay alive and healthy. If left unattended for long, you may have to remove the tree entirely.

These insects typically attack stressed trees or young, newly-transplanted trees, but they can also turn to healthy trees in a pinch. By the time most people notice that their trees are under attack, it’s too late. The insects have already burrowed into the deepest parts of the trees, permanently damaging them.

If you see holes in your tree’s trunk and branches, or a sawdust-like substance around or on the tree, you’re probably dealing with a wood boring insect. Depending on where you live and what kind of trees are affected, you should be able to narrow down the most likely culprits. This will help determine what course of action you can take to get rid of them.

How to deal with and prevent wood boring insects

Getting rid of wood boring insects is possible. Some professionals will suggest insecticide, while minor cases might be solved by vigorous pruning and returning the tree to a healthy state. The best thing you can do for your trees is prevent them from being susceptible to infestation in the first place.

Prevention methods include watering your trees separately from your lawn, protecting them from sunburn or mechanical injury, planting trees that have already adapted to your region and monitoring trunks and branches on a regular basis. Another way to avoid attracting wood boring insects is to avoid pruning your trees in seasons where wood boring insects are flying, which usually happens from late winter to late summer. (This may depend on your specific region, so be sure to check which types are common in your area and their most active months.)

Unfortunately, even insecticides won’t save heavily-damaged trees. In that case, removal of the tree is your only option.

Wood boring insects can be difficult to deal with, but keeping your trees healthy and staying vigilant will help minimize any damage they can cause.

Get tree maintenance in Newton, MA

BBD Tree Service is dedicated to helping Newton-area residents keep their trees healthy, trimmed and looking their best. We also offer tree removal services for occasions when your tree is dying, rotting or otherwise a danger and nuisance. Call us today to learn more about our tree maintenance services and get a free estimate.

Categorised in: Tree Maintenance

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