Content
- Common pests on the conifer - and what you can do about it
- Detect pest infestation
- These pests are often found on coniferous trees
- plant lice
- leafminer
- spider mites
- bark beetle
- Tips
The webs of spider mites can be swept off
Common pests on the conifer - and what you can do about it
Most pests on conifers belong to the insect and spider kingdom. Often the many-legged animals lay their eggs in the wood and their larvae damage needles and wood sustainably. By rodents such as voles caused problems, however, occur in coniferous trees comparatively rare.
Detect pest infestation
Due to the small size of the animals, a pest infestation is often only detected when already lasting damage has occurred. To prevent this, periodically check your plants for one or more of the following:
If you find it, there is definitely a pest infestation. Now you should act as soon as possible to mitigate the damage.
These pests are often found on coniferous trees
Often the pests listed below are found on coniferous trees, often already weakened beforehand infested trees - for example, those who are in an inappropriate location or who are stressed by nutrient deficiency or over-fertilization.
plant lice
Different types of plant lice - including aphids, woolly lice and mealybugs as well as the spruce louse - sit on the undersides of the needles or soft shoots and suck off the cell sap there. Infested plant parts are often sticky due to the excretions of the animals, which in turn attracts soot thymes and ants.
leafminer
This is an inconspicuous, small butterfly that prefers its eggs in the bark or bark of conifers. The slipping caterpillars eat into the wood and cause numerous small holes in the bark. Above all, trees are infected (Thuja).
spider mites
The softwood spider mite is easily recognizable by the typical name-giving white web. Heavy infestation eventually leads to browning and subsequent dropping of the needles.
bark beetle
Bark beetles are particularly susceptible to prolonged drought - extreme stress for conifers, which usually prefer a fresh to moist location. The animals hide very well and often only by numerous holes or small thickening on the branch base. Adult animals and their larvae feed on both the needles and the wood.
Tips
In many cases, a pest infestation as well as a disease helps only a spirited pruning down to healthy wood.