Aug 11, 2014, 13:57 PM by User Not Found

A tree planted in memory of the legendary Beatles guitarist George Harrison by Bark Beetles

You may have already heard that a tree planted in memory of legendary Beatles guitarist George Harrison was destroyed by of all things – beetles.

The tree, which was planted in 2004 in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, had reached a height of 13 feet and was a tribute to Harrison who in addition to lending his hand to some of music’s greatest songs was an avid gardener and lived his later years in the City of Angels. Harrison died in 2001.

Who were the beetles who felled the tree that honored another Beetle? Park officials laid the blame on bark beetles, an aggressive species known to attack trees.

The Clark Man found that more than 200 species of bark beetles live in California. Among the most commonly encountered species are the engraver, red turpentine, western pine beetle and elm bark beetles.

Bark beetles are known to go after pine, cedar and cypress bark beetles attack arborvitae, cypress, false cypress, junipers, and redwoods in urban areas. They attack twigs, branches, or trunks of trees and shrubs and are noticeable by the appearance sawdust-like frass that is created by the beetles. Frass accumulates in bark crevices and may be visible on the ground or in nearby spider webs.

Small emergence holes in the bark are also a good indication that bark beetles are present and if homeowners remove the bark around these holes they will often find dead and degraded bark.

These destructive wood eaters will attack trees weakened by drought, disease or other factors that stress the tree.

Since bark beetles live in the protected habitat beneath the bark, control can be difficult once they establish a nest. If trees or shrubs are infested, homeowners should prune and dispose of the bark beetle-infested limbs but if the main trunk is extensively attacked by bark beetles, the entire tree or shrub might have to be removed.

The best way to protect your trees from invasive and destructive pests like beetles is to perform regular, routine maintenance. Remember, a healthy tree is far less likely to be attacked by pests than an unhealthy one. Make sure you irrigate trees properly, trim off dead limbs and fertilize on a regular basis.

Clark Pest Control can create a customized program that ensures your trees and plants receive proper fertilization, year-round, along with any necessary protection from damaging insects and disease.

If you are having issues with bark beetles or lawn pest, call 800/WE-NEED-YOU or drop me an e-mail at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

 

Until next time, I’m the Clark Man and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.