Madison Tree Care & Service Providers
What Is Bronze Birch Borer?
The adult bronze birch borer, scientifically known as Agrilus anxius, is a slender, dark bronze beetle. It has a distinctive green iridescence under its wings. This beetle is a significant pest, particularly harmful to stressed birch trees. It primarily targets the ornamental White Birch, which is common in many neighborhoods.
The bronze birch borer beetle lays its eggs in the bark of birch trees. When the larvae hatch, they burrow into the tree’s vascular system and feed on the vital tissues. This feeding disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, leading to visible damage and decline.
Without timely intervention, the bronze birch borer will spread the disease throughout the tree. This can result in the death of affected branches and, eventually, the entire tree.
To protect your birch trees from this destructive beetle, regular monitoring is crucial. Early detection and treatment can prevent severe damage and preserve the health of your trees.
What Bronze Birch Borer Looks Like
An early warning sign of bronze birch borer damage is the yellowing and thinning or wilting of leaves in the upper part of the tree, especially in the top center of the canopy. These bronze birch borer symptoms are more obvious in hot, dry weather but can develop slowly if the tree is otherwise healthy.
Another clear symptom of bronze birch borer beetle infested trees is the presence of “D”-shaped holes on the tree trunk, along with tunnels under the bark. These occur as the larvae burrow and feed inside the tree.
Treatment for Bronze Birch Borer
If you suspect your tree may be unhealthy, please contact us immediately at (608) 886-0626, even if you’re uncertain. Once we receive your call, our Certified Arborists spring into action.
Here’s what our process looks like:
- You call, we answer!
- We will schedule a time for our certified arborists to stop in and inspect your tree(s).
- During our visit, we’ll listen to your concerns and check your yard to ensure everything is in good shape.
- You’ll get an easy-to-understand write up of what we’ve discussed.
- Upon approval of the scope of work, we’ll schedule your Bronze Birch Borer treatment.
- Final step: Your trees are pest free!
Preventing Bronze Birch Borer
Like many tree pests, the birch bronze borer targets trees that are under stress. To prevent this, it’s essential to keep your birch trees healthy and well-maintained. We recommend pairing any bronze borer birch tree treatment with a stress-reducing regimen of natural, full-spectrum nutrients. This approach helps fortify the trees against infestation and promotes overall healthy trees.