Insect Inspect

The Pacific Northwest serves as a home for many different insects. Some of these critters can be beneficial to your lawn but the majority of them cause severe harm to your grass, trees and shrubbery. Some of the most common pests you can be sure to find lurking around your backyard in the late parts of May and early June include Bark Beetles, Eriophyid Mites and Cutworms.

Bark Beetles attack trees when they are already in distress. This could be distress caused by something as simple as pruning incorrectly or something less predictable like an unexpected thunderstorm. Heavy infestations of these beetles can lead to a tree’s defoliation or even worse, its death.

Eriophyid Mites emerge from May until July. They can be found on conifer tree needles and buds causing yellowing, stunting, and the curling of needles. What’s worse is as many as 6 generations of these insects can occur in one season, meaning destruction of your foliage is fast and somewhat effortless for them.

There are over 650 species of Cutworms in Washington State alone. The best way to identify a plant infested with cutworms is to notice the state of the stems. Do they look as though they have been cut by lawn mower? Then you have cutworms. Be especially sure to protect seedlings from these pests as they are Cutworms’ favorite meal.

To be clear, this is not an exhaustive list. In fact, there are hundreds of different insect species waiting to take a vengeance on your yard. Thankfully Impeccable Landscapes Inc. has you covered. We will make sure your lawn is in tip-top shape and ready to fight off critters like these!