
Aphids, Sap, & Ladybugs 🐞
You may not be familiar with aphids but most homeowners are familiar with the sticky sap that drips from trees around this time of year and the cute little insects we call ladybugs. But what do all these things have in common? They’re all part of an environmental equilibrium which is often out of balance in our urban landscape. To be specific, the aphids are the pest, the sap a symptom, and ladybugs a natural…

Beneficial Insects: Fighting Bad Insects with Good Insects
Beneficial Insects are a category of insects that provide valued services such as pollination and pest control. As homeowners are becoming more environmentally conscious, beneficial insect releases are rising in popularity. Just this week we performed Beneficial Insect Releases on 3 properties; however, many homeowners still have never heard of controlling pests with beneficial insects. In this article, we will cover how the beneficial releases work, the benefits of these releases, and why your property…

Aphids On Crepe Myrtles
Our Arborists are warning homeowners to keep an eye out for Aphids on Crepe Myrtles (also spelled Crape Myrtles) this spring & summer. Last year our technicians reported high populations of aphids on crepe myrtles throughout the season and predict that this year will see high populations as well. Crepe myrtle aphids reproduce rapidly. This makes it easy for them to quickly grow into a large population that will damage your tree. Found throughout May…

Lace Bugs On Azaleas
Lace bugs are small 1/4″ long insect with wings that damage plants. They are named after their flat lace-like wings. There are many different kinds of lace bugs but the ones we see the most in the DC Metro area are Azalea lace bugs, Stephanitis pyrioides. Our Arborists recommend that homeowners keep a close eye on their Azaleas since signs of Lace Bugs should start appearing in the next few weeks. Azalea lace bugs…

Sap Dripping From Trees
Do you have sap dripping from trees? Many homeowners have trouble with sap dripping off of their trees onto their cars and walkways. This sticky substance can be difficult to remove, accumulate dirt, and attract flies and other annoying insects. What most homeowners will be surprised to learn is that this sticky substance isn’t sap at all. The substance is Honeydew, and despite the name it has no relation to the fruit. Honeydew is the…