Gypsy Moths and Trees

It's hard to believe that a small moth can be so deadly to something as hardy and large as a tree and yet the gypsy moth is one of North America's most devastating forest pests.
What does the gypsy moth primarily feed on? Typically its most common hosts are oaks and aspen but they have been known to feed on the foliage of hundreds of species of plants in North America with the highest concentrations of host trees are in the southern Appalachians, the Ozarks, and in the northern Lake States.
This moth becomes powerful due to its numbers. It lays its eggs in masses, typically on branches and trunks of tree. The egg clusters are buff in color when first laid but may bleach out over the winter months when exposed to direct sunlight and weathering. Egg clusters contain from a couple of hundred to about 1200 eggs, although some batches may be as small as 50 eggs. Gypsy moths are dispersed in two ways; the first is through wind carrying newly hatched larvae hanging from host trees on silken threads. Larvae can travel for up to one mile with eggs carried even longer distances. Artificial dispersal occurs when people accidentally transport gypsy moth eggs thousands of miles from infested areas on cars and recreational vehicles, firewood, household goods, and other personal possessions. Females are flightless in most varieties, so these are the only means of spreading.
Tree damage is caused when the insect larvae, or caterpillars, emerge from their eggs to the leaves of trees and begin to eat them. The feeding occurs mostly at night. The gypsy moth caterpillar has a special preference for the leaves of deciduous hardwood trees such as maple, elm, and particularly oak.  They can also feed on apple, alder, birch, poplar and willow trees.  As the moth grows it will also attack evergreens like pines and spruces.  Gypsy moths appear to dislike ashes, sycamores, butternuts, black walnuts, dogwoods and balsams.  However, during heavy infestations, competition for food will drive the caterpillar to attack almost any tree or shrub.
Depending on the degree of infestation, tree damage ranges from light to almost complete defoliation.  Most deciduous trees can survive a moderate degree of defoliation.  Many can even survive one complete defoliation by the gypsy moth caterpillar.  However, continuing attacks can fatally weaken a tree or leave it vulnerable to other insects or disease. The condition of the tree at the time it is defoliated, the number of consecutive defoliations, available soil moisture, and the species of host will determine if the tree continues to live or dies. If less than 50 percent of their crown is defoliated, most hardwoods will experience only a slight reduction (or loss) in radial growth. If more than 50 percent of their crown is defoliated, most hardwoods will refoliate or produce a second flush of foliage by midsummer. Healthy trees can usually withstand one or two consecutive defoliations of greater than 50 percent. Trees that have been weakened by previous defoliation or been subjected to other stresses such as droughts are frequently killed after a single defoliation of more than 50 percent.
A number of tactics have the potential to minimize damage from gypsy moth infestations and to contain or maintain gypsy moth populations at levels considered tolerable. These tactics include monitoring gypsy moth populations, maintaining the health and vigor of trees, discouraging gypsy moth survival, and treating with insecticides to kill larvae and protect tree foliage. The tactic or combination of tactics used will depend on the condition of the site and of the tree or stand and the level of the gypsy moth population.
Yes, believe it or not this small insect can cause this much damage. If you think your trees have been infested by gypsy moths, call your local agricultural cooperative agency or arborist to find out what you can do to stop the damage.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Trees and Invasive species

If you are trying to grow the perfect tree, or at least a healthy and beautiful tree, battling invasive species or potential invasive species can be a challenge.

An invasive species, also called a pathogen, can infect a tree anywhere from the stem to the branches and quickly kill the bark in a spreading canker. These pathogens reproduce rapidly with a huge a numbers of spores. The spores can be shot into the air and carried by the wind, or carried by the splash of a raindrop, a bird or insect.

Non-native, invasive species constitute one of the greatest economic and environmental challenges in the history of the United States natural and managed ecosystems. Non-native plants and plant pests cost more than $100 billion per year in crop and timber losses plus the expense of herbicides and pesticides. Types of invasive species include:
* chestnut blight * sudden oak death * white pine blister rust * beech bark disease * dutch elm disease * butternut canker * Port-Orford-Cedar root disease * dogwood anthracnose

It is difficult to recognize tree diseases because the organisms responsible are small and not easily detected in the early disease stages. Once a problem is recognized, the disease is often in an advanced stage, limiting an arborist’s treatment options. Some diseases can kill trees in a short period of time (oak wilt infections); others are long-term chronic diseases (nectria canker).

Some diseases do not usually cause serious damage to trees (powdery mildew), while others can virtually eliminate an entire tree species (chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease). Harmful, parasitic bacteria cause a number of plant diseases. Damage from bacteria can be limited to leaves (shot hole disease) or the bacteria can infect and destroy the vascular system of the tree (bacterial leaf scorch), eventually causing tree death.

A tree owner may first notice a problem with their tree when leaves in a section of the crown begin showing signs of wilting or scorching. Arborists can pick up on more subtle clues. Often an upper portion of the crown shows signs first. With verticillium wilt, one limb or a group of limbs show signs of a problem before the rest of the tree. Other symptoms to look for include: trees of the same species that express themselves differently; wilting or scorching leaves; leaves smaller than normal in one section or the whole tree; early fall color in one section of the tree or the whole tree; dieback of twigs and limbs; reduced shoot growth; leaf discoloration; stress-induced production of numerous small cones or fruit of poor quality; and heavy resin or gum flows.

Extensive dieback and death can occur rapidly in the case of Dutch elm disease, oak wilt of red oaks, or blue-stain wilt of shortleaf and loblolly pines. In the case of bacterial leaf scorch, oak wilt of white oaks, and verticillium wilt, damage occurs more slowly and often can be controlled. When a tree has been infected, a professional arborist can assess treatment protocols and advise techniques for mitigating damage or avoiding a repeat of the infection.

Of course, the best way to avoid tree diseases is to keep trees healthy, which makes them less susceptible. Insects that spread diseases are attracted to trees that are stressed and have a weakened defense system.

A professional arborist can assess and maintain a landscape, ensuring proper soil fertility and watering practices to promote plant health and minimize the effects of stress on plants. Arborists can also help diagnose and mitigate other causes of poor growth or decline, such as poor site conditions or mechanical, environmental, and chemical injuries.

Like anything, sometimes it is important to call in a professional to help and this includes tree disease as well.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Should I Hire an Arborist: Austin Tree Service

Hiring an arborist is a very good idea if you want to try to save a tree. An arborist will have the knowledge to help save a tree or tell you honestly if it must be removed. A regular tree trimming service or tree removal company may only be interested in the fee that they will receive for removing the tree. In today’s day and age, it is more important than ever to try to save the trees that we have. Hiring an arborist is the best way to ensure that you have done everything possible to save a tree.
An arborist is sometimes called a tree doctor or tree surgeon. Arborists are extensively trained in tree diseases, growth problems, insect control, and tree fungi. Arborists are equipped to manage and advise in the most complicated tree situations. Arborists are scientists with specific expertise in tree management.
There are many tree trimming and tree removal companies out there that do not hire a certified arborist to consult in their business. Certified arborists have a certification accredited by the International Society of Arboriculture. These people are dedicated to saving trees and doing everything possible to ensure that trees are not removed unless they absolutely need to be.
An arborist is also trained in the maintenance and care of other woody plants that may be a part of your landscaping. An arborist will have the knowledge to work on large areas of trees and give advice regarding the entire ecosystem of trees and wooded plants in a specific area. They are also extensively trained in transplanting trees safely. They will assist in the proper location and technique for planting new trees on your property, as well as what types of trees will do best in your area.
Arborists know how to treat different kinds of diseases, pests and parasites. An arborist is the best person you can hire for tree trimming or removal as well. Trimming involves a lot more than just sawing off unwanted limbs. The exact location of the cut and knowing exactly what limbs to cut to ensure the tree grows in the shape and direction that you desire, is something that an arborist can offer. This knowledge is specifically valuable in Austin, Texas where mature trees can be scarce and every effort to maintain and save them must be made. If you are looking for an Austin tree service to maintain and save your trees, be sure that they employ a certified arborist to do the job.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.