Kincaid Tree Surgery showed up today for the annual tree spraying against pine beetles and spruce bud worms. Usually they come twice a summer because the spruce problem is early in the season and the pine beetles are later in the season, but this year (I think for their own purposes) they are here about half-way in between.

This year aphids are unusually bad and are attacking the spruce trees, particularly Colorado Blue Spruce. They form white egg sacs that resemble snow on the branches.



Also, the egg laying is causing the trees to form galls (those brighter green clumps) as a defense. These will eventually turn brown and shed off.



We already found a tree on the edge of the yard that had been killed by pine beetles and a couple of sick ones that were infected, but the spraying is meant to save the other pines. Good for us, we have a diverse mix of trees - firs, spruce, pine and deciduous - so losing a few trees isn't the end of the world, but we don't want the beetles to go marching up the hill and take out all the pines.

Comments:

Can the forest service not spray the forests from the air? This sounds like a very serious problem that could destroy an awfully lot of trees.

We had some Blue spruce and notice one of them are chewed up
or strip from its branches,First I thought this was the
caterpillar,now you mentioned pine beetles and was wondering
if this is the culprit?

Pine beetles are killing the forests in our area. My favorite fishing spot was beautiful and now... it is mostly dead trees just waiting for a lightening strike. I don't know what is wrong with the forest service in our area, but they don't seem to be doing their job. The Native Americans want the forests back and although I have opposed that move... I'm about ready to join their side. They claim they could do a much better job overseeing the forests.

Annie :o)