Arborists Remain Dedicated to Protecting Estate Trees from Winter Moths
It’s getting closer to winter and arborists are on the lookout for moths. But not just any member of the Lepidoptera order. These pests migrated here from Asia and Europe more than seven decades ago. They’re part of the Geometridae family and pose a real danger to certain estate trees. Among the ones most at risk of falling victim to winter moth invasions are Garry oaks, red maples, scotch elms and all varieties of apple trees.
Year Round Destruction
Unlike other members of the Lepidoptera order, these moths actively destroy trees all year round. In the cool season, the larvae go underground but the adults remain topside eating and mating. They lay their eggs on the trees’ surface or in openings that allow them to sit within the inner bark or cambium cell layers. Then as the temperatures warm up the eggs start to hatch.
Subsequently, the winter moth’s life cycle begins anew, which is obviously bad news for arborists and the estate trees in their care. In order to stop the cycle and save estate trees, arborists must adopt a two-prong approach. They must kill off the adults while simultaneously addressing the hidden larvae and eggs. Understandably, given normal winter conditions, achieving the latter goal is challenging for even the most seasoned arborists.
That said, oftentimes for arborists, the best route forward is to look after the estate trees year round with eyes toward winter moth prevention. This approach allows them to keep the winter moths from ever infesting the property in the first place. However, there is still much that may be done to save infested trees; which have recently come into an arborist’s care. For example, it may be possible to use chemical controls before trees and the surrounding soil are covered with snow or thick layers of ice. To learn more about preventative steps arborists may take to hold off or eliminate winter moth invasions, you can follow along on Facebook and Instagram, or you can contact us here if you have any questions.
