Understanding the Threat
Adult Asian longhorned beetles are large, distinctive-looking insects measuring 1 to 1.5 inches in length with long antennae. Their bodies are black with small white spots, and their antennae are banded in black and white. USDA photo by R. Anson Eaglin.
Check your trees!
If you’re like us at Baker Tree Services, you likely enjoy relaxing in your yard or a park and enjoy the beautiful trees, the peace and quiet, wildlife running about, and the fresh air. In these moments, it feels like all is well. But sometimes, nothing could be further from the truth.
Former President Abraham Lincoln was widely known for telling stories to make a point. In one well-known tale, he talked about a farmer’s very large, stately shade tree that towered next to his house. As the story goes, the farmer was working in his garden and noticed a squirrel running up the tree and into a hole. When the farmer checked it out, he discovered that his stately tree was hollow from top to bottom. He was devastated. If he cut it down, it could cause great damage because of its size. If he let it stand, his family would be in constant danger of it falling on their house. As he walked away, the farmer wished he hadn’t seen the squirrel.
We find ourselves in a similar situation today with many of the wood boring insects that attack our trees. These insects feed inside tree trunks and branches during the colder months. Then they chew their way out as adults in the warmer months. Often infested trees do not recover and eventually die. They can become safety hazards as branches drop and trees can fall over, especially during storms.
Why Tree Inspections Are So Important
That’s why it’s so important to have your trees checked. While you may not always like what’s found, your action may help detect a harmful invasive pest before it’s too late. Like the farmer in Lincoln’s story, you may wish you had never seen that squirrel, but you will be thankful you did and acted because of it.
You can find information about Pest and Disease Control and common threats to trees in western Maryland and surrounding area at Baker Tree Services’ Pest and Disease Control for Trees webpage. For a free consultation and estimate of your tree care needs, call us at 240-288-7223.
Our team of I.S.A. certified arborists at Baker Tree Services specializes in preventing and treating tree pests and diseases. They are experts in identifying tree issues and will collaborate with you to create a treatment plan to preserve your trees. Baker Tree Services photo by J. Davidson.
(Adapted from Davidson, J. (2020, August 24). An Important Action to Take: Check Your Trees! An Important Action to Take: Check Your Trees! | USDA)