Beetle Mania

Let the wild screaming commence because it is beetle mania time! Paul, John, Ringo, and George? No, no, no, not the once-famed British band, but rather the kind that crawls around destroying trees and lawns - Japanese Beetles, Asian Longhorned, and Emerald Ash Borer. Not the beetle mania you were hoping for I am guessing? Well, no one really wants to deal with lawn and tree pests, but your best chance at avoiding the destruction associated with these beetles is to learn a little about them and their behaviors. Let's take a closer look at these three types of beetles in the hopes that a little information can help.

Japanese Beetles

The Japanese beetle is one of the most common lawn pests in New England. In fact, Japanese beetle grubs make up about 90 percent of the white grubs that live in Massachusetts lawns. These particular type of pest enjoy eating a wide variety of trees, fruits, shrubbery, and lawns. These flying pests eat away chunks of tree leaves and flowers. Often, they'll leave nothing more than the skeleton behind. When a Japanese beetle infestation is severe, tree leaves may brown at the top of the canopy or leaves may drop prematurely. There are a variety of treatment options ranging from traps to chemical control that can be determined by one of our lawn specialists.

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)

This non-native beetle originated in China, Japan, and Korea, but since 1996 has made its way into our region probably through shipping containers. The ALB infests hardwood trees, such as maple, birch, horse chestnut, poplar, willow, elm, and ash. Signs that your trees are infested could include scars on the tree, holes about the size of a dime with round, smooth edges, or seeing the beetle itself. (see image) Early detection is critical to eradicating this beetle. Report suspected sightings by contacting the Massachusetts ALB Cooperative Eradication Program.

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer is one of the many destructive beetles that can be found in North America. This one is unique in that it is a highly invasive species capable of populating a large area in a short amount of time. The metallic green coloring makes this beetle easy to spot along with the distinctive and highly visible D shaped hole they create in ash trees. Areas that have been identified are quarantined to stop the spread of the beetle. While this Beetle mania may not be the type you were hoping for, a little knowledge can go a long way to preventing the destructiveness of these pests. Have a beetle or pest problem? Call Pest-End Exterminators at 1-800-287-4321, 603-382-9644, or 978-794-4321 to have your home or property inspected and treated for these small yet damaging pests!