Most conifer pests belong to the insect and spider kingdom. The many-legged creatures often lay their eggs in the wood and their larvae cause lasting damage to the needles and wood. Problems caused by rodents such as voles, on the other hand, are relatively rare in coniferous wood.
Spider mite webs can be swept away
detect pest infestation
Due to the small size of the animals, a pest infestation is often only recognized when lasting damage has already occurred. To prevent this, you should regularly examine your shrubs for one or more of the following signs:
- white webs on needles and twigs
- twisted or otherwise crippled-looking needles and branches
- needles turning brown
- increased falling needles
- Bark discoloration / peeling bark
- Drill holes in the wood along with drill dust on the trunk and base
- unusual cone-like growths on branches
If you find anything, there is definitely a pest infestation. Now you should act as soon as possible to limit the damage.
These pests are often found on conifers
The pests listed below are particularly common on coniferous trees, with weakened trees often being attacked beforehand - for example those that are in an unsuitable location or that are stressed by a lack of nutrients or over-fertilization.
plant lice
Different types of plant lice - including aphids, mealybugs and mealybugs as well as the spruce tube aphid - sit on the underside of the needles or soften shoots and suck off the cell sap there. Infested parts of the plant are often sticky due to the excretions of the animals, which in turn attracts sooty mold and ants.
leaf miners
This is an inconspicuous, small butterfly that prefers to lay its eggs in the bark of coniferous trees. The caterpillars that hatch eat their way into the wood and cause numerous small holes in the bark. Trees of life (Thuja) are particularly affected.
spider mites
The coniferous spider mite is easily recognizable by the typical white web that gives it its name. A heavy infestation eventually leads to browning and then to the fall of the needles.
bark beetle
Bark beetles appear mainly as a result of persistent drought - an extreme stress for conifers, which usually prefer a fresh to damp location. The animals hide very well and often only attract attention due to numerous boreholes or small thickenings at the base of the branch. Adult animals, as well as their larvae, feed on both the needles and the wood.
tips
In many cases, a prudent pruning back into the healthy wood will help with a pest infestation as well as with a disease.