Unwelcome Tree Guests
Here in Hawaii we have an abundance of beautiful trees, with that comes a variety of tree pests. These pests steal life, nutrients, vigor and appearance often threatening structural integrity and forcing you to remove your once beloved tree. Some of the most notorious suspects found on Maui are:
- Stem Gall Wasp
- Kou Leaf Worm
- Spiraling White Fly
- Monkeypod Borer Beetle
- Lobate Lac Scale
- Eucalyptus Snout Weevil
- Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle
- Blue Coconut Leaf Beetle
- Pacific Cockroach Beetle
Fortunately, there are treatment options if infestations are caught early enough which can save your tree(s) from needing removal.
Each pest has it’s own unique way of destroying the life of your tree(s), here are four examples from the above list. The stem gall wasp, found on Banyan trees, lays its eggs in the stems and small branches (not to be confused with the leaf gall wasp, which will not kill your tree, but is simply unattractive) leaving holes or bubbles (galls) which interfere with the vascular tissues of the tree. Spiraling white fly is found on the underside of leaves noticeable by the little white flies buzzing around or a white sticky coating. It is very prevalent in Hawaii landscapes and seen frequently on plumeria trees. This pest will slowly steal the vigor and appearance of your plants and trees, opening the door to black sooty mold. Eucalyptus snout weevil and tortoise beetle are defoliating blue gum eucalyptus to the point of tree fatality creating a hazardous situation which can be prevented with a timely plant health care (PHC) program. Then there’s the blue coconut leaf beetle, that feeds on young fronds as they develop causing the unsightly appearance of hardened, gray, and tattered coconut fronds.
If you have a tree that is not doing as good as it used to due to lack of leaves, sudden dropping or dying of branches, weak canopy vigor, holes in trunks or branches or ‘munched on’ leaves, its possible that you have some type of pest infestation and it would be beneficial to have an arborist assess your tree(s). A certified arborist will be able to discuss and help you decide on treatment options or recommend removal if the tree is no longer safe. Should treatment be an option, it is recommended to begin at the first sign before the issue becomes a major tree stressor. Treatment options could include foliar sprays, trunk injections, soil drenches or soil injections. We recommend trunk injections as it delivers 100% of the treatment directly into the vascular system of the tree making it very fast, efficient and environmentally friendly.
Be on the look out for these unwelcome tree guests! Head to the ‘Pests’ page on www.alohaarborist.com to get more information on these and other landscape pests and diseases. And as always, contact your neighborhood arborist with any questions.
