Trees & Insect Prevention

Pesticide

• Pesticide is the first control option that many landowners reach for when insects attack a tree, but it is also the trickiest to use safely and effectively. Whether made of synthetic chemicals or a natural substance such as neem oil, pesticides kill insects by poisoning them. They are often indiscriminate, killing insects that are necessary for pollination or perform some other valuable service. Overuse or improper pesticide use can result in contamination of waterways and insect resistance.

Tree Varieties

• Trees have varying levels of disease and insect resistance. A tree variety that is well-suited to one area may possess resistance to insects native to that place, but when planted in a different area, it may prove to be vulnerable to insect species present in the new location. In general, dwarf fruit tree varieties are more pest-resistant than tall varieties.

Biological Control

• Damaging insects are prey to birds, bats, spiders and other insects. By providing a good habitat for these beneficial predators, you can take advantage of their natural ability to reduce your insect problem. Habitat may include cover in the form of tall plants and shrubs, water and a steady food source. In rural and semirural settings, you can also introduce domestic species, such as turkeys and chickens, that eat insects and provide eggs and meat in return.

Removal by Hand

• Some insect pests are easiest to get rid of by hand. Large, slow-moving pests like bagworms cover themselves in a tough outer covering that makes them difficult to kill with pesticides. Remove this sort of insect larva by pulling them off of the branches and placing them in a holding container with a screened top to allow beneficial insects and parasites to escape. To prevent reinfestation, destroy the collected pests by burning them or drowning them.