A hackberry woolly aphid, sometimes called Asian woolly hackberry aphid, was discovered in California in 2002. It infests hackberry, especially Chinese Hackberry, throughout the state. This aphid was accidentally introduced into the United States in the late 1990s and also occurs from Florida to Texas and northward to at least Tennessee.
This aphid is a pest because its copious honeydew excretions create a sticky mess and promotes the growth of blackish sooty mold on leaves and surfaces beneath infested trees. No long term damage to hackberry trees has been found after several years of infestations. Because the honeydew can be very sticky and intolerable to people you may decide to have the tree treated. There are various treatment solutions. The best treatment seems to be soil injection or drenching. As always there are many factors that decide whether or not to treat a tree and a discussion with a professional is always a good idea.
If you suspect that your tree is suffering from hackberry woolly aphid or any other disease, a professional arborist can assess your tree to provide recommendations for treatment.
The best way to avoid tree diseases is to keep trees healthy, making them less susceptible. This is best done by maintaining your landscape, ensuring proper soil fertility and watering practices to promote plant health and minimize the effects of stress on plants.
Acorn Arboricultural Services, Inc., is a local tree services standing by to help you with your tree service needs. We have professionals on staff ready to inspect your property and will give you a free quote. If you have serious tree concern, consult our professional arborist who will identify the causes of tree health problems and make recommendations for treatment.
Contact Acorn Arboricultural Tree Service, Inc. with any additional questions or for consultation using our online form or call us at 916-787-8733916-787-8733!