Tree and Shrub: Insect ID & Control Programs

Insects can cause considerable damage to your trees and shrubs. Knowing what to look for will allow you to determine if your trees or shrubs need control measures, Grounds Services offers a variety of chemical control measures from insect sprays to injections to protect your landscape plants.

	Aphid Aphids can come in an assortment of colors, from green to red and brown to purple. The aphid can damage the leaf and stem of a plant (although some plants do not seem to be... Read more
	Bagworm Bagworms can be destructive to a variety of plants, including: arborvitae's, red cedars, junipers, oaks, sycamores, maples, and apple trees, just to name a few. They camouflage themselves by creating a... Read more
	Black Vine Weevil These pest feed on over 100 different plants, from trees to shrubs and flowers to vines. The adult stage feed along the leaf margin creating crescent-shaped grooves while the larvae stage feeds at the root of... Read more
	Borer Borers are insects (such as beetles or moths) which spend a portion of their development under the bark of certain trees. Many borers do not cause extensive damage to the tree and in fact... Read more
	Boxelder The box elder bug is mainly a nuisance when its population is high, though even when populations are high this pest does not do much damage to trees or shrubs. Box Elder bugs are attracted to warm... Read more
	Earwigs Earwigs are easily identified by the pinches attached to the rear of this insect (which is mainly used for catching prey and defense). Some species do no damage to the landscape while other species... Read more
	Eastern Tent Caterpillar These pest create a 'tent' within the forks of branches. They are usually active throughout spring and one large colony can completely defoliate a small tree. They will feast on a variety of trees including... Read more
	Emerald Ash Borer The emerald ash borer has been the cause for the death of multiple ash trees and forced quarantines throughout multiple counties, including the surrounding areas of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan... Read more
	Fall Webworm The fall webworm leaves a distinctive and unmistakable mark on our trees. The construct unsightly webbed sacks around twigs and branches, enclosing leaves as they do. To someone who may not know it's the... Read more
	Gall Galls are growths on the plant which may be caused by fungus, bacteria, insects, mites or mechanical injury. Visually the tree or shrub will show swelling in portions of the leaf, twig, trunk, root or branch... Read more
	Gypsy Moth Gypsy moth populations can fluctuate from year to year; during dense population booms, the larvae may cause considerable damage by repeatedly defoliating the tree leaving it weak and... Read more
	Japanese Beetle Japanese Beetles can defoliate a tree within a matter of a few weeks (or sooner if the infestation is heavy). We have seem booms of beetle population in areas that previously had no problem... Read more
	Lace Bug The lace bug is named for the lace-like pattern that is formed on the wings and thorax of this pest. The lace bug feeds on leaf sap, as they suck the secretion through the leaf bleaching or leaf spots may occur... Read more
	Leafminer Leafminers are the larvae or maggot stage of many moths, beetles, sawflies and flies. The larvae stage resides within the leaf tissue and feeds leaving trails or blotches as they do. The areas that they feed on... Read more
	Sawfly There is a variety of sawfly species, some will feed exclusively on pine needles from the previous years growth while others feed on leaves of ash or birch trees. The sawfly is related to bees, wasps... Read more
	Scale Scale is an interesting insect, the females rarely have legs (with the exception of some soft-bodied species) and do not have wings. The males, on the other hand, resemble gnats though do not have... Read more
	Spider mites Spider mites are a common pest in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, there are multiple species, though they are managed in the same fashion and produce a distinguished silken thread... Read more

Want more? University of Minnesota has a great page dedicated to insects. Click here.

Insecticides can either be systemic (absorbed through the plant and then ingested by the insect through feeding) or contact (applied directly to the insect or picked up by the insect moving through an area which has the insecticide on it). Insecticides may be selective (attacks only specific insects) or broad-spectrum (affects a wide range of insects).

Grounds Services, Inc. offers a variety of services for your lawn care needs. To schedule a technician visit and/or receive a free estimate, contact us today at 419-536-4344.