5 Common Signs That You Have Box Tree Moth Damage in Edmonton
Though Edmonton is well-known for its frigid temperatures and polar vortexes, there is one unsung season that Edmonton thrives in—summer. Edmontonians make the most of the short summer months by attending the city’s many festivals, spending time by the river or getting lost in the lush trees of Mill Creek Ravine. In fact, Edmonton’s Mill Creek Ravine is one of the largest urban parks in Canada. Though there are endless perks to the beautiful summer months in the Edmonton area, one detrimental creature threatens its plant life—the box tree moth or “Cydalima Perspectalis.” This moth, native to Asia, is an invasive pest that feeds on boxwood plants and trees, causing significant damage in its larval stage. Some of the threats that it poses to your trees include defoliation, rapid spread of damage, negative ecological impacts and more. So, how can you tell your tree has fallen prey to this destructive critter? Our Edmonton arborists break it down for you below.
In this blog, we’ll explore the five signs that you have boxwood tree damage, why they pose such a threat to trees, shrubs and plants and how you can combat the issue. It’s critical to catch these signs as early as possible to limit damage and detriment to your plant life and landscape. Now, let’s dive in!
1. Defoliation
If it’s the height of summer and you’ve noticed that your branches have become bare or your tree’s leaves are yellowing or browning despite regular plant care, these are sure indicators that you could have box tree damage. Defoliation occurs because box tree moths voraciously consume boxwood leaves. When this happens, it stunts your tree’s energy production and essential physiological processes. Defoliation also depletes stored food reserves and leaves your trees vulnerable to disease and pest invasion.
2. Skeletonized Leaves
Skeletonized leaves are another sign of box tree moth damage, unique to the box tree moth. Because this critter consumes the tissue between leaf veins, your trees will be left with only the skeletons of once lush foliage. Since tissue helps protect leaves against disease and insect attacks, this form of webbing will cause your plants to have less of the vigour ordinarily used to combat these issues. Skeletonized leaves can also have long-term consequences, such as decreased growth and increased vulnerability to outside threats.
3. Stem Cankers
Have you noticed blackened lesions peppering the twigs between tree nodes? Then you likely have stem cankers due to box tree moth damage. Cankers pose significant threats to bark and sap, which are responsible for transferring water and nutrients throughout the shrub. Without this water flow, branches above the canker can wilt and die. Cankers also create openings in the bark, causing it to be more susceptible to disease, insect infestation, fungi and decay. In extreme cases, cankers can also girdle the trunk of the trees, causing entire branches to die.
4. White Fungus
Though Edmonton’s climate is relatively dry, it can still become susceptible to humidity during the rainy seasons. When the moisture content is high, you may see white fuzzy spores present on the undersides of leaves and coming out of stem cankers. Whenever you notice this white powder-like substance, you likely have box tree moth damage, and you’ll need to get the issue taken care of right away. White fungus can lead to premature shedding of leaves. When this happens, your crops will be unable to produce the food they need to survive and thrive. White fungus can also cause stunted growth, aesthetic damage, and be detrimental to young plants.
5. Branch Dieback
Branch dieback is a detrimental condition that causes the rapid deterioration of branches. This damage will start at the tips of branches or twigs and work its way further toward the tree’s trunk. Defoliation and dieback are incredibly harmful to trees. This is because, as branches die, the resultant leaf loss decreases energy production through the process of photosynthesis. Dieback also weakens the overall structure of the shrub, making it more susceptible to damage during storms and inclement weather. Energy used for regular growth processes will be redirected towards compartmentalizing dead tissues from box tree moth damage. Additionally, root system damage, pathogen entry points, economic loss, and whole system impact can occur from this issue.
What You Can Do About the Dreaded Box Tree Moth
Now that you know the signs to be on the lookout for when it comes to the box tree moth, you may be wondering what you can do about it. There are some DIY measures you can employ to prevent further detriment to your trees, including:
- Inspecting boxwoods from May to September for any of the signs mentioned above should be regulated for box tree moth damage
- Detection of moths and physically removing them from your boxwoods (box tree moths have wings with thick dark brown colouring on the outer edges and small white streaks on the forewing)
- Prune and dispose of infected areas
- Monitor plants for signs of caterpillars
- Fertilize plants to promote healthy growth
Enlist the Help of Trusty Tree Services in Edmonton for Assistance with Box Tree Moth Damage!
Now that you’re well-versed on box tree moth signs of damage to your nursery, you may need the help of an Edmonton arborist for the next steps! That’s where Trusty Trees Services of Edmonton comes in. We’ve been serving our local communities for decades, so we’re the professionals you can trust to support your trees through all their life stages. Whether you have infested boxwood, damaged leaves and twigs, or webbing, or you need plant health inspection services, you can depend on us to take care of it all.
When your trees are infested with all life stages of the box tree moth in Canada, we’ll be there. We provide services for tree pruning, tree trimming, stump grinding, deep root fertilizing and tree removal.
Contact us today at 780-860-5500 to book an appointment, and we’ll help control and limit the spread of box tree moth damage, no matter the species of boxwood you have!