Removing Tree Pests: Tips from The Pros

Byndtreeservices

The trees on your Parker, CO, property are living landmarks. They provide shade, beauty, and significant value, but they are also part of a dynamic ecosystem, one that includes a host of native and invasive insect pests. Seeing your valuable pines, spruces, or ash trees show signs of decline can be alarming for any homeowner. The key to protecting them is understanding the threat and knowing when to act.

At N&D Tree & Crane Services, our entire Plant Health Care philosophy is built on a simple but critical principle: a stressed tree is a susceptible tree. Pests and diseases are often not the root cause of a tree’s failure; they are symptoms of an underlying stressor. This guide, based on our years of experience managing tree health along the Colorado Front Range, will provide you with expert insights into identifying and managing the most common and destructive tree pests in our area.

The Arborist’s Approach: Diagnosis Before Treatment

Before we ever recommend a treatment, our first step is always a thorough diagnosis. An ISA Certified Arborist is trained to look at the entire picture, because the true culprit behind a pest infestation is often the environment itself. Trees in our suburban landscapes face numerous stressors that don’t exist in a natural forest, including compacted soil, competition from turfgrass, drought, and improper planting. These factors weaken a tree’s natural defense systems, making it an easy target for opportunistic pests.

Accurately identifying the specific insect is the next critical step. The treatment for Ips beetles is different from that for aphids, and a misdiagnosis can lead to ineffective, costly, and environmentally irresponsible applications. Our experts can distinguish between insect damage, a fungal disease, or a cultural issue like a nutrient deficiency, ensuring we are solving the correct problem from the start.

Major Pests of Conifers: The Bark Beetle Threat

Colorado’s iconic pine and spruce trees face a significant threat from several species of bark beetles. These insects are a natural part of our ecosystem, but under certain conditions, their populations can explode, leading to widespread tree mortality. For these pests, proactive prevention is the only effective strategy.

The Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB): A Potent Forest Shaper

The Mountain Pine Beetle is one of the most well-known and destructive insects in the West. While its major epidemic has subsided, it remains a constant threat to our local pine populations.

  • Primary Targets: Ponderosa, Lodgepole, and other pine species.
  • Signs of Attack: The most obvious signs are popcorn-shaped masses of resin on the trunk, called “pitch tubes,” which are the tree’s attempt to push the beetles out. You will also see fine, sawdust-like material called “frass” in bark crevices and at the base of the tree. Eventually, the tree’s needles will fade from green to yellow, and finally to a rust-red color, though by then it is too late.
  • Management Strategy: Once a pine tree is successfully colonized by MPB, there is unfortunately no cure. The beetles introduce a blue-stain fungus that cuts off the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, leading to its death. Therefore, treatment must be entirely preventative. Our CDoA licensed applicators can apply a preventative insecticide trunk spray, which creates a protective barrier that kills beetles before they can successfully bore into the tree. We also offer modern pheromone treatments (Verbenone), which send a signal that the tree is already “full,” tricking incoming beetles into moving on. The timing of these applications is absolutely critical; they must be performed before the beetles’ summer flight period to be effective. Any tree that is already successfully infested must be removed to prevent the next generation of beetles from emerging and attacking other healthy trees on your property.

Ips Beetles: The Spruce Slayers

While many people are familiar with MPB, the Ips beetle is often the more immediate and aggressive threat to spruce trees in the Parker area, especially during periods of drought.

  • Primary Targets: All species of spruce, particularly Colorado Blue Spruce.
  • Signs of Attack: Unlike MPB, which often starts lower on the trunk, Ips beetles typically attack the top of the spruce tree first, causing the top to die and turn brown while the lower branches may still appear green. You will see reddish-brown boring dust in the bark crevices, but the pitch tubes are generally smaller and less obvious than those of MPB. A key characteristic of Ips is their ability to have multiple generations in a single year, allowing them to kill a tree very quickly.
  • Management Strategy: Ips beetles are experts at finding stressed trees. The number one defense is to ensure your spruce trees are healthy and properly watered, especially during dry periods. For high-value trees, preventative insecticide trunk sprays, similar to those used for MPB, are highly effective. These applications create a protective barrier that prevents the beetles from successfully colonizing the tree. As with MPB, once a tree is heavily infested and showing signs of decline, removal is typically the only option to protect surrounding spruces.

The Invasive Threat: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

The Emerald Ash Borer is a non-native, invasive pest that is considered the most destructive forest insect ever to be introduced to North America. It has been confirmed in several Front Range communities and poses an existential threat to all untreated ash trees.

  • Primary Targets: All species of ash trees (genus Fraxinus).
  • Signs of Infestation: The signs of EAB can be subtle at first. Look for thinning in the upper canopy and dieback of branches. As the infestation progresses, you may see increased woodpecker activity as they feed on the larvae. Other signs include small, D-shaped exit holes on the bark, bark splitting, and epicormic sprouting (sprouts growing from the main trunk). By the time these symptoms are obvious, the tree is often too far gone to be saved.
  • Management Strategy: Because EAB is so aggressive, proactive and preventative treatment is essential for any high-value ash tree you wish to save. The most effective and environmentally responsible method is the use of systemic trunk injections. Our licensed applicators inject a specialized insecticide directly into the tree’s vascular system. The tree then transports the product throughout its tissues, protecting it from the inside out. This method is highly targeted, has no drift, and is safe for the surrounding environment. Treatments must be repeated, typically every two years, to maintain protection.

Other Common Pests on the Front Range

While bark beetles and EAB are the most lethal threats, several other pests can cause significant stress and aesthetic damage to your trees.

Aphids and Scale Insects: The Sap Suckers

These small insects feed by sucking the sap from leaves and tender stems. A heavy infestation can cause leaf yellowing, curling, and stunted growth. A key sign is the production of a sticky, sugary substance called “honeydew,” which can coat leaves, branches, and anything beneath the tree. This honeydew often leads to the growth of a black, unsightly fungus called sooty mold. While not usually fatal to a mature tree, a chronic infestation can cause significant stress. Management can include horticultural oil applications or, for severe cases, systemic treatments.

Leaf-Chewing Insects

Various caterpillars and other insects can cause damage by chewing on leaves. In most cases, a healthy, mature tree can withstand a minor to moderate amount of defoliation without long-term harm. However, a severe infestation, or one that occurs year after year, can weaken a tree and make it more susceptible to other problems. If you notice significant defoliation, our arborists can identify the specific pest and determine if a targeted treatment is necessary to protect the tree’s health.

Why Professional Pest Management is Essential

When it comes to managing tree pests, a professional, scientific approach is non-negotiable. An incorrect diagnosis or an improper application can be ineffective at best and harmful at worst.

Our team is led by an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist who can accurately diagnose the complex issues affecting your trees. All of our treatments are overseen by a CDoA Qualified Supervisor Applicator, which is your guarantee that we are using the correct products, at the correct rates, and according to the strictest state and federal safety regulations. This level of expertise ensures that our treatments are not only effective but also responsible.

A true Plant Health Care program goes beyond just spraying for bugs. It is a holistic strategy that integrates targeted pest management with proactive cultural practices like deep root feeding to improve soil health and expert pruning to remove weak or diseased wood. By addressing the underlying health of your trees, we can make them less attractive to pests in the first place. This is the most effective and sustainable way to protect your valuable landscape for the long term.

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