In Ohio, it’s very common for harmful insects to reside in trees and shrubs and therefore be completely overlooked until it’s too late. If you aren’t paying attention, your trees and shrubs could be at risk for damage and diseases, and you might not notice until they are too far gone to be saved. At Portage Turf Specialists LLC, we use an insect control system that works to correct problems while maintaining the balance of beneficial and harmful insects. So while we’ll leave your ladybugs alone, these are the insects you need to watch out for.
Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles are invasive insects that cause extensive damage to your favorite trees and shrubs. They eat the tender tissues between the veins of the leaves of your plants until all that is left are the brown, skeletal remains.
Tent Caterpillars
Tent caterpillars are known for their unsightly webs, or tents, that they build in several species of broadleaf trees and shrubs. If left unchecked, their population can quickly grow large enough to completely defoliate your trees, thereby reducing the tree’s growth and making it vulnerable to disease.
Viburnum Leaf Beetles
Unlike most insects that are not dangerous for your plants until they reach adulthood, viburnum leaf beetles are harmful from the start. The larvae may defoliate your plants at the beginning of the season and then the adult beetles defoliate the plants during the second half of the season.
Long-Horned Beetles
Originating in Asia, these beetles have come to America and are definitely not welcome! They are known to kill many species of trees, including poplars, maples, elms, and mulberries, by entering the heartwood of the tree and destroying the quality of the wood.
Pineshoot Borers
Pines, spruces, and firs are at risk from pineshoot borers. The insects bore into trunks and stems and can reduce growth and cause damage to the trees. Healthy trees are typically able to fight these insects off, but a tree under stress is especially vulnerable.
Emerald Ash Borers
Emerald ash borers are another invasive species from Asia and are known to feed on a tree’s bark. This will eventually damage the tree’s ability to transport moisture and nutrients from the soil to the tree’s leaves, causing damage and even death to ash trees.
Portage Turf Specialists LLC in Ravenna, OH, provides pre-emptive and corrective grub and insect control services. We believe the best way to protect your lawn and landscape is by taking action long before a problem arises. To learn more, contact us today at (330) 296-8873.
