Some of the largest living things in the world are trees. In contrast, they can easily get infected and killed by some of the smallest living things – insects. Texas is home to many different types of insects, and some of these can be very harmful to your trees. Texas tree bugs are studied well, and if you consider planting any trees on your property you need to learn more about them.
Keep reading to find out more about Texas tree pests and bugs that can be harmful to your trees!
Common Texas Tree Bugs
1. Stipplers
Stipplers are insects very similar to lace bugs and spider mites. Usually, they spread infections from one tree to another and eat the underside of leaves. However, stipplers may not cause extensive damage to your trees due to their small size. Still, they cause leaf drop since they engage in binge eating frenzies very often.
According to tree services Texas, the most common sign of stipplers’ presence is naked spots throughout the branches of a tree. Arborvitaes, Italian cypresses, and oaks attract stipplers. Besides, bleached, bronzed, and stippled appearance is the most common signs of an issue with stipplers.
2. Suckers
Suckers are one of the most common causes of tree diseases Austin. They include aphids and scales and these pests usually feed on a variety of tree species – including pecan trees, crape myrtles, magnolias, elm, and huckleberry.
Similar to stipplers, suckers are a type of Texas tree bug that initially doesn’t cause a lot of damage to trees. Still, these popular San Antonio tree pests contribute to the growth of honeydew and sooty mold. Besides, they increase twig dieback.
Finding suckers is not easy since they are microscopic. However, you can provide treatment before any significant damage is done and eliminate the problem for good.
3. Chewers
In most cases, chewers cause missing pieces on tree leaves. This type of pests can cause massive infestation and lead to developing many different tree diseases Texas.
Chewers eat away at leaves on your trees, as their name indicates. One of the most common evidence of an infestation is leafy skeletons throughout tree limbs and branches. Interestingly, caterpillars fall into this category since they eat the greenery on arborvitae, juniper, oak, and cypress trees.
4. Gall Makers
Gall makers are popular Pearland tree pests that form growths on branches, leaves, and roots that are also known as “galls”. They are common for the Northern parts of the state and the most common types of galls are oak apple gall and nipple gall.
The good side is that these Texas tree pests are not deadly to trees. However, they are very unsightly and can damage the appearance of your trees. Moving these galls are crucial if you want to maintain healthy-looking trees and if you’re concerned with your property value.
5. Borers
Most common borer species that harm trees are cottonwood, gum bumelia, redheaded ash, and emerald ash borer. The most common among them is the emerald ash borer.
These Texas tree pests first showed up in the ’90s and have been present in the United States since then. All borers drill deep holes into the trunks and barks of trees, no matter what the species is. These holes reduce the health of trees and make them decay.
We recommend consulting with your local tree service Texas company to deter these insects from becoming a bigger issue than they are at first.
FAQ
Q: How do you treat trees for bugs?
A: To treat trees for bugs in Texas you will have to identify the bugs you’re dealing with first. For some, applying systemic insecticide will be enough. On the other side, smothering bugs with horticultural oils while they’re still in small colonies is crucial.
Q: What insects live in a tree?
A: Different types of insects live in trees in Texas. Some of the most common ones are ants, beetles, aphids, skippers, stipplers, borers, gall makers, and scale insects. Careful observation of the symptoms is very important to determine how to deal with the problem.
Q: What kind of bugs are in Texas?
A: Many types of bugs are still common in Texas today. For example, roaches, beetles, weevils, earwigs, flies, mayflies, aphids, flea hoppers are just to name a few. These bugs are sometimes dangerous and sometimes harmless, so identification and determining what type of bugs you’re dealing with is important.
Local Tree Experts Overview
Texas tree bugs are sometimes harmless, but can also be very dangerous since they weaken the trees and cause them to decay. Consulting with your local arborist is the best thing you can do if you notice any symptoms on your trees. Prevention is the key to treating tree pests in Texas, so pay close attention!
