Bugs & Pests
Beneficial Bugs and Harmful Pests Found In Alberta
When you notice an abundance of insects on your trees, your instinct might be to eliminate them all. However, this isn’t always necessary. Many beneficial insects coexist with harmful pests on or near your trees. We’ve created this informative guide to help you distinguish between those that should remain and those that should be removed.Â
Once you’ve identified the types of insects on your trees, you may still require our services in Edmonton. If so, don’t hesitate to contact All Season Tree Service. We can assist you in determining whether you need pruning, shaping, or even tree removal.
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BUGS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR TREES
DRAGONFLIES
Benefits: Eat other insects like mosquitoes
How to identify: A long and thin body, large heads and eyes, two sets of net-like wings and bright colours
EARTHWORMS
Benefits: Breakdown of organic matter into the soil, which promotes natural fertility and aeration
How to identify: Long, slimy body that is tan in colour and doesn't appear to have a head
FLOWER FLY LARVAE
Benefits: Prey on aphids
How to identify: Adult flies are brightly coloured with body stripes
GREEN LACEWINGS (APHID LIONS)
Benefits: Consume aphids and other garden pests
How to identify: Green colour, net-like wings and clumsy flight
GROUND BEETLES
Benefits: Feed on other insects such as caterpillars
How to identify: Often have two or three segments on their bodies, six legs and are dark in colour
LADYBUGS (LADYBIRD BEETLES)
Benefits: Consume aphids and other garden pests
How to identify: Red or orange colour with black spots on wings
PESTS THAT ARE HARMFUL FOR OUR TREES
Aphids
Disadvantage: Feed on plant sap and excrete "honeydew," which allows the fungus to grow and creates black scum that sticks to cars, patio furniture and more. Losing sap also weakens the plant
How to Identify: Small pear-shaped insects; generally green but can also be yellow, grey, black, brown or pink
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Signs of damage: Yellow or light red spotting or curling leaves
How to deal: Wash away aphids with water, trap them with sticky yellow cards hung around plants, and encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
LEAF BEETLES
Disadvantage: The larvae of leaf beetles feed on the leaves of trees, causing defoliation damage
How to Identify: Larvae are wormlike with dull yellow and black stripes
Signs of damage: Leaves with holes or missing altogether
How to deal: Conventional pesticides are very effective and should be used when eggs hatch while the larvae are still tiny
SAWFLY LARVAE
Disadvantage: Larvae chew holes in leaves or consume entire leaves, leading to the defoliation of trees
How to Identify: Sawflies come in various types, but generally, the larvae are greenish caterpillars with short fleshy spines
Signs of damage: Holes in leaves or trees without any needles
How to deal: Early detection will allow for easier control and reduced damage to your trees. Remove larvae with forceful water sprays, insecticidal soap for low populations, or conventional insecticides
Weevils
Disadvantage: Larvae feed under the bark of the tree, and feed punctures from adult weevils can cause damage
How to Identify: Adults are small, green beetles with beak-like projections on their heads, while larvae are small, whitish and legless
Signs of damage: Dropping, wilted appearance of leaves; small punctures covered in black fecal caps near the top
How to deal: Mechanical control, such as pruning and destroying infested branches, will help eliminate weevils as long as they are larvae
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