Insect and Disease

The spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) is a bark beetle species native to North America. Host trees include mostly white spruce, but also Colorado Blue and Norway spruce. Known for its devastating impact on large boreal spruce forests, this beetle has recently gain attention due to infestation occurring in towns, summer villages, woodlots, shelterbelts, and windbreaks. […]

Aphids are among the most frequently and widely encountered insects on trees, shrubs, and ornamental garden plants. These small, sap-sucking insects with very high numbers for extended period of time can cause e damage to a wide range of trees, impacting their health(dieback) growth(wilting), and overall productivity. Aphids are prey for numerous beneficial insects, such

Fireblight is a destructive bacterial disease caused by the pathogen Erwinia amylovora. This bacterial disease widely affects plants in the Rosaceae family, including apples, pears, variety of cherries, chokecherry, Saskatoon berry, raspberries, black berries, hawthorn, cotoneaster, and mountain ash. Fireblight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, remains a significant threat to fruit production worldwide. Spread Overwintering bacteria

Cytospora canker on hardwoods, particularly caused by Valsa sordida, and Leucostoma sp. is a significant and destructive disease affecting various hardwood trees. Cytospora canker on hardwoods is notorious for its detrimental impact on fruit trees( Prunus species, apples, pears, cherries, peaches, and plums.), ornamental trees(maples, ash, birch, oaks, elms. Mountain ash, etc. ), and forest

Cytospora canker, also known as Leucostoma canker, is a pervasive and damaging disease, primarily caused by the fungus Cytospora kunzei. The disease is notable on spruce species, such as the Colorado blue spruce (very susceptible to Cytospora canker), Norway spruce and native white and Engelman spruce. Disease causes tree significant structural damage; reduces their effectiveness

Yellow-headed spruce sawfly (Pikonema alaskensis) is native species to Alberta. Also introduced European spruce sawfly (Gilpinia hercyniae ) is found in Prairie provinces. Sawfly attacks native white, black and Engelmann spruce trees as well as variety of non-native spruce trees( Colorado, and Norway spruce).  It can create significant damage to many young spruce trees on

Oystershell scales (Lepidosaphes ulmi) are tiny, armored insects that creatures are infesting a wide range of woody plants(trees and shrubs). Named for their resemblance to oyster shells, these scales have infested limbs and branches of wide range of deciduous (broad-leaved) trees and shrubs. Oystershell scales is serious pest to cotoneaster hedges and dogwood shrubs. Host

As fall is giving us spectacular leaf colours from hardwood species, the fall needle drop is a natural phenomenon that occurs in pine, spruce, fir and arborvitae trees during the autumn season. It is a process in which these trees shed their older needles, making way for new growth and ensuring the overall health and

White pine weevil (Pissodes strobi) is a native North American insect that attacks native white pine in eastern Canada while in prairie provinces it only attacks spruce trees ( white, Colorado, and Norway). The white pine weevil attack and injure terminal leader of spruce trees. In late June, affected new growth will wilt and turn

The spruce budworm  (Choristoneura fumiferana) is a native moth and one of the most serious and damaging spruce and fir trees defoliator in North America. It primarily attacks spruces ( white, black Colorado)  and balsam fir trees in Alberta. It is a wasteful feeder on current year needles.   White spruce is naturally established on 9