Other Pests
Other types of pests which affect Christmas tree production include arachnids such as the spruce spider mites (Oligonychus ununguis), and rust mites (Nalepella).
In addition some species of birds are considered pests by Christmas tree farmers, examples include the Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphrapicus varius). The Pine Grosbeak feeds on buds on conifers, including Christmas trees, which stunts tree growth, causes abnormal formation, and thins the foliage. The Pine Grosbeak, as a pest, generally affects Scots Pine but also affects Eastern White and Red Pine as well as spruce trees. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, as a Christmas tree pest, is hosted by Scots and Austrian pine trees. The sapsuckers peck holes in sapling bark causing sap to bleed out: potentially killing the trees and allowing insects and pathogens to enter.
Read more about this topic: Christmas Tree Pests And Weeds
Famous quotes containing the word pests:
“How we love sequestering, where no pests are pestering.”
—Lorenz Hart (1895–1943)