Nordmann fir pests

Two types of pests occur frequently

In its native Caucasus, the Nordmann fir hardly suffers from pests. Over the centuries or even millennia, it has probably adapted ideally to its living environment and developed great resilience. In our part of the world it looks worse for them. The following types of pests in particular can be dangerous to her:

• Small pine bark beetle
• Pine shoot aphid

Small pine bark beetle

The bark beetle appears preferentially when the Nordmann fir has got a very sunny spot. In addition, young and weakened specimens are attracted to this pest. In years when their population is particularly large, healthy trees are not spared either. They damage the bark of the tree in order to lay their eggs under it. How to recognize the pest:

• Body is 1 to 2 mm long and oval
• dark brown color
• Deck wings are covered with scales and hair
• The eggs are 0.5 to 0.8 mm long
• the hatched larvae are white and 2 to 3 mm long

You can also recognize an infestation by the fact that the shoots and branches turn reddish, sometimes also the crown. If the infestation continues, the bark will also peel off in places. Direct control of the bark beetle is not possible, which is why an affected fir tree usually has to be felled.

Pine shoot aphid

The gray-green shoot aphid also prefers sunny Nordmann firs. An infestation can easily be recognized by the white wax flakes that the pest leaves on the bark of the fir tree. It is important that you discover the work of the lice at an early stage, because in the worst case it can damage the fir to such an extent that it dies.

Use environmentally friendly spray against the in the winter lice one, for example those based on rapeseed oil.