A Pecan tree or its scientific name, Carya Illinoensis is a native tree from Southern Texas to Southwestern Ohio. These trees are planted as shade tree and for their edible nuts. However, pecan trees are vulnerable from different borer insects. Here are the information about the types of the insects, and ways to protect your pecan trees.
Ways to Protect Your Pecan Trees
- There are many types of borers’ insects, which are flat-headed apple tree, Asian ambrosia beetles and dogwood borers.
- Flat-headed apple tree borers are metal green beetles that have slightly flattened bodies, which is about 0.5 inch long.
- Dogwood borers or Synanthedon scitula are clear winged moths, which has 0.5 inch long bluish black bodies and yellow abdominal bands. While Asian ambrosia, which is an introduced species of beetles, are about 0.8 inch long when it reaches maturity and has reddish-brown bodies.
- Radioheaded appletree borers lay their eggs in tree bark. The eggs will hatch into larval insects that dig several inches into the wood and leave a sawdust-like material on the ground near the tree. Adult beetle feed on foliage, and adult Asian ambrosia create tunnels in the wood and lays their eggs inside the tree by creating cankers that cause the tree death. Dogwood borer larvae, which are worm-like insects with brownish heads and two reddish spots usually enter trees through injuries in the bark and eat the soft material between the wood and the bark that is called cambium.
- To control roundheaded appletree borer, dogwood borer populations and Asian ambrosia beetle. Appropriate chemicals with time applications are used to control these borers. Keep your trees in good health and protection through fertilizing, watering and pruning to prevent these insects. To prevent dogwood borer infestations, The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends protecting the tree against any physical injuries.
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Additional Reading:
Control of Western Peach Tree Borer in Northeastern Oregon
