Palo Verde Disease
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Insect pests can and do injure the Palo Verde and other desert trees. These pests can damage leaves, twigs, branches, trunks and roots. The most dangerous is the root borer.
The Palo Verde Borers are root borers and are rarely seen above ground. Adults are 4" to 6" long with antennae nearly as long as their bodies. Adults are active July through October.
Immature larvae feed on roots of Mexican Palo Verde and other non-native trees. Larvae spend up to three years underground feeding on roots over a 7 to 10 year period Palo Verde Borers will gradually kill a tree. Most adult borer females lay eggs from spring through summer.
Another class of Insect that usually attacks stressed or damaged desert trees like the Palo Verde are Flatheaded Borers Flatheaded Borers most commonly invade sunburned or otherwise damaged areas along the trunks and branches of trees. Olive-gray adults lay eggs under the bark of damaged areas. The larvae are cream colored and legless and mature to 1 1/2" long. The maturing larvae feed on dead wood and make small tunnels filled with what appears to be sawdust. This damage occurs beneath the bark and can go unnoticed for long periods.
Another type of insects is the insects that attack the foliage of desert trees. These include: Acacia whitefly, aphids, and psyllids.
Acacia White Fly actually appears dark gray or black because of a large dark spot on the body. These insects reproduce rapidly and cause significant leaf loss. Aphids are a common and wide spread plant pest that can attack desert species. Aphids are restricted to the succulent new growth on the tips of twigs of desert trees. Aphids reproduce rapidly and can quickly kill small twigs and deposit honey dew (a clear, sticky material excreted by aphids that blackens leaves and twigs).
Psyllids feed by scraping at the undersides of leaves giving the leaves a blotchy, yellowing appearance. Psyllids suck plant juices and produce honeydew, sometimes in crystallized form, on which blackish sooty mold grows. Abundant psyllid infestation can cause defoliate and reduce plant growth.
If you would like to have your polo Verdi trees or any other trees evaluated just give me a call at 480 969 8808 and I’ll schedule a time for warner to meet with you.
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Warner’s Tree Surgery is a family business that is now in its second generation. Our business consists of my wife Pat, who manages the office and answers the phones, and me - Warner Working.
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We offer expert tree disease diagnosing and treatment. We have a knowledge of the inner-workings of plant biology and a working overview of how a trees works as a complete system. This knowledge has arisen from 45 years of study and practical fieldwork.