Top Tree Pest Control in the San Diego Area
Safe, Effective, and Thorough Pest Control by ISA-Certified Arborists
There are several types of insects that can damage your plants. Scientists categorize tree pests according to how they feed. There are sucking, chewing, and boring bugs that can threaten the health of your trees, create unsightly damage, and cause premature leaf fall that accumulates on walkways and in your yard. Timely tree pest control for your San Diego property can prevent these problems.
Wilting leaves, discoloration, stippling, and leaf skeletonization are just a few of the symptoms that indicate you have unwanted pests in your trees. By identifying the type of insect involved, we can determine what steps to take to get rid of them.
Our licensed arborists can inspect your trees for signs of pest infestations as part of our annual maintenance programs or in a scheduled wellness check. As part of our tree pest control services, we will:
- Inspect your trees and plants for signs of insects such as wilted, curled, dropped, chewed, or skeletonized leaves.
- Provide insect control which may include applying sprays, pellets, and other preventive services.
- Remediate the damage done to your trees. Our skilled arborists will eradicate harmful pests and remove damaged branches, wasp and other nests that are detrimental to your trees or the people on your property.
Types of Tree Pests in the San Diego Area
Here’s a quick lesson about the most common tree pests in San Diego:
- Bark beetles bore through the inner bark of trees and shrubs. This may cause the flow of sap in conifers and some hardwoods, such as walnut and elm. Bark beetles usually infest trees already damaged by disease, drought, and injuries, and they can contribute to the decline of infected trees.
- Mites are sucking insects that are so tiny you may need a magnifying glass to see them. There are many species of mites that can damage vines, fruit trees, berries, and vegetable plants. For example, spider mites leave behind stippled leaves and other kinds of mites can distort leaves and fruit.
- Tree-boring caterpillars. The adult stage of these are moths that lay their eggs on trees and plants, and the larvae bore into buds, wood, and plant shoots. They wreak havoc on your landscaping by boring holes in trunks, weakening branches, and disturbing shoot growth.
- Mealybugs are wingless with protruding filaments that look like they’ve been battered and floured. They suck the juice out of leaves and shoots causing leaves to yellow and drop.
- Psyllids, aphids and whiteflies excrete a sticky honeydew after eating plant sap. Adult psyllids look like tiny cicadas while whiteflies have white wings. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that may be green, brown, black or reddish purple. The sticky honeydew can accumulate on vehicles and lawn furniture.
- Scales are odd-looking bugs without a separate head. They remain largely stationary, suck plant sap and secrete honeydew, and cause leaves to turn yellow and drop early.
- Thrips are slender insects with piercing mouthparts and fringed wings. They too are sucking insects, and often transmit viruses. The black dots of their waste on leaves gives them away.
Hire a Professional San Diego Tree Pest Control Company to Protect Your Property
At Coastal Tree Care, our arborists provide expert pest control services that meet ISA guidelines. We do our best to save your trees from marauding pests that rob them of life and vitality. However, it may sometimes be necessary to remove a tree that is extensively damaged, to preserve the safety of your property, people and pets.
If you are a property owner in San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, or Coronado, call the tree care specialists at Coastal Tree Care. You can reach us at 619-847-4225 to set up a tree pest control appointment.