After all the time and work, you have invested in your summer landscape whether that is planting, fertilizing, or designing a beautiful yard, the last thing you want is a pest invasion. Summer bugs can destroy your beautifully designed and planned landscape if not treated. As experts in pest control in Charlottesville, Staunton, Lexington, Harrisonburg and everywhere in between, Big O Tree and Lawn Service is familiar with the pest invading our region. We have created a list of the top 5 insect pests invading Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. If any of these pests are preventing your landscape from reaching its potential, Big O Tree can help!

 

1. Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an exotic, invasive insect introduced in 2002. We are seeing EAB affecting Green, White, and Black Ash tree in the Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley region. This pest lives under the bark of the tree and will eventually kill the tree if not treated properly. Big O Tree and Lawn offers long-term protection with a trunk injected product that suppresses the pest for two years.

 

2. Bagworms

This is a common summer pest for evergreen trees, mostly. This destructive insect gets its name from the protective bag they produce to live inside. This bag looks like a small needle covered ornament hanging from the limb. The stage where the bag is produced is known as the caterpillar stage and is active from late June to mid-August. This pest will cause damage by stripping the plant of its foliage, ruining your beautiful landscape. Early detection is the key to controlling Bagworms. Big O Tree offers consultations to new and existing customers, so if you think you may have an infestation contact us today.

3. Japanese Beetles

This is a perennial pest that causes great damage in the summer. The adult pest is a metallic colored beetle often congregating around trees. This insect will eat out the tissue between the veins on a leaf, leaving a skeleton behind. The best treatment for Japanese Beetles is controlling grub in the soil. Big O Tree’s Lawn Care division has a program to control grub and, therefore, manage the Japanese Beetle invasion. Because the adults are mobile, they are particularly difficult to treat. For this reason, regular grub treatments may be required to control the damage.

 

4. Spider Mites

Spider Mites affect many types of plants, however, the most common and destructive invasions are seen on evergreen trees. Dwarf Alberta Spruce is especially vulnerable to these attacks and can be seen in the browning and red tint of their foliage. If not treated properly, these pests can cause considerable damage or even kill your trees. Because mite populations can build up quickly it is important to gain control of the invasion before it is too late.

 

5. Lace Bugs

This pest affects Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Cotoneaster and more. Lace Bugs cause the leaves of the plant to turn pale as they suck the chlorophyll from the leaves. This pest is known to congregate on the underside of the leaf, making them hard to see. Damage done by Lace Bugs makes your plants more susceptible to damage from other pests, diseases, and unfavorable weather conditions.

 

Our expert team treats all these pests regularly throughout the summer months. We are familiar with what to look for when identifying what is causing damage to your plants. In addition to treating insect pest invasions, Big O Tree also provides preventative services for pest control. If you think one of these pests have invaded your landscape or wish to prevent future invasions, give Big O Tree and Lawn Service a call today to schedule a consultation.