With years of service as a Cleveland Heights tree company, we run into these summer pests over and over. Now that the summer heat has reached Cleveland you may be inclined to stay indoors to stay cool. It is in these hot temperatures though that some bothersome pests can take over your tree. Take 10 minutes to walk around your property and check on your trees for any signs of infestations or emerging problems – it is better to look for the signs and catch any problems as soon as possible before it gets worse and your tree dies.

The main two tree pests you should look for are the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) and the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)

Although August is the peak time for this type of beetle to emerge, it is possible that they may show up earlier, especially with the consistent hot temperatures in Cleveland right now.

• Appearance – One inch long, shiny black body with white spots; six legs; long back and white-striped antennae.
• Damage – These insects are capable of burrowing deep into your tree’s tissue, in other words, the main transport for water and nutrients. With the supply of food cut off, the tree will starve, weaken and then die. ALB are not known to be attracted to only one type of tree. These pests will burrow and cause problems in maples, mountain ash, poplar, willow, and several more.

Emerald Ash Borer

This beetle has harmed more than one million ash trees in the U.S. and Canada so if you have an ash tree on your property, definitely make sure to check your tree.

• Appearance – A metallic, bright green body that is no larger than a dime; six legs; short green antennae.
• Damage – Once EAB infests a tree the females lay eggs which then grow into larvae. While an infestation is bad, the real problem is when the larvae bore into the tree in order to feed off the nutrients underneath the bark. If this has happened to your tree you should be able to notice S-shaped tracks under the bark or D-shaped holes.Just like with an ALB infestation, the tree is unable to get enough nutrients and will eventually weaken and die.

With the full summer heat upon us in Cleveland, it can be easy to want to stay inside in the air conditioning all day, but all it takes is 10 minutes to walk around your property and check on your trees’ health. Call the team of experts at VanCuren Tree Services to get the best care for your trees. We also specialize in tree removal and tree trimming in the Cleveland area.