Is the top of your pine tree turning brown, wilting, and dying? If so, the offender is possibly the white pine weevil. If you want to know what it is and how to treat white pine weevils, continue reading!
Trees Susceptible to White Pine Weevil Damage
Don’t get it twisted. This insect doesn’t just harm Eastern white pines but also goes after all other types of pines and spruces too. A white pine weevil is also referred to as a spruce weevil or an Engelmann spruce weevil.
White Pine Weevil Damage
Destruction due to a white pine weevil is very distinctive.
In the springtime, female weevils begin laying eggs and feeding on branch tips at the top of their favorite tree hosts. In the process, they produce tiny holes that bleed sap. Drops of this sticky, shiny substance under branch tips are the first sign of the white pine weevil’s presence.
Controlling White Pine Weevil
Spring Spraying
Trees can be sprayed in the springtime with an insecticide that kills the female weevils and stops them from laying eggs. A single weevil can lay over 100 eggs. Therefore, it’s vital to stop them fast. For this to be effective, infested trees have to be identified before tip die-back, so watch for the oozing sap that reveals the presence of female weevils. The whole leader and any infested branches have to be wholly covered with insecticide. Since these sprays aren’t available to homeowners, you have to call a licensed tree care specialist with the training to spray them entirely and safely.
Summer Pruning
In the summertime, affected leaders can be pruned back to get rid of parts possibly containing weevil larvae. In more significant trees, pruning is not a DIY option, so contact an experienced and certified arborist to do the work safely and correctly. This professional will use accurate pruning methods to reduce the chance of harming and disfiguring your tree.
Fall Soil Treatment
Before the dirt freezes in the autumn, a systemic insecticide can be used that will stop weevil damage the upcoming springtime. A tree care professional will use a soil injection, so there’s no spraying involved. The fall application provides the tree with the necessary time to absorb the insecticide and flow up to the leader where weevils feed in the springtime.
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