Twig Girdlers, not squirrels, may be to blame for fallen twigs

One of the common questions I receive this time of year involves the accumulation of precision-severed branches and twigs laying around in the yard. The twigs first start falling late in the summer but are usually noticed more in the early fall. Many folks contribute this phenomenon to squirrels, strong winds or storms, but it is most likely caused by a member of the longhorned beetle family known as the Twig Girdler.

This pest is appropriately named the Twig Girdler because of the females' ability to neatly trim or girdle branches about the size of a pencil with her strong jaws. The female beetle chews or girdles the outside of the twig until it is almost separated from the tree. She then gnaws small notches in the dying part of the twig to lay her eggs. Eventually, the twig falls to the ground which is usually the first time you notice you have the beetle. It is also important to note that the female girdles the twig to ensure that eggs and larvae survive as they can't fully develop in green twigs and high moisture.

The adult Twig Girdler is about five-eighths of an inch long and is gray and brown in color with very long antennae. The body is covered with short hairs. A Twig Girdler requires a full year and four stages to complete a life cycle. Egg, larvae, pupae and adult cycles remain in the old girdled twigs until early September when the adult chews out of the old twigs and moves to a live host tree thus beginning a new life cycle. Twig Girdlers usually attack pecan, hickory, and oak trees and other ornamental trees but can also attack smaller woody ornamentals. Damage is usually minimal and is more of a nuisance than anything else. On rare occasions, young trees may be severely damaged if the infestations are extremely high.

How do you control these insects? Chemical control is neither effective nor seldom recommended. The most effective control is to gather the girdled limbs that have fallen to the ground and dispose of them in the fall and winter months. Disposing of these limbs eliminates the source of infestation and the larvae inside which would otherwise hatch and develop into adult girdlers the next fall.

For questions about this or other issues with your trees or plants, contact Allen Bates, County Extension agent-Agriculture, at [email protected], 623-6841, or come by the Cooperative Extension Office at 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs.

Master Gardener information

If you have an interest in gardening, you may want to apply to become a Master Gardener. The Master Gardener training is coming up soon, and the deadline for submitting your application is Nov. 30. If you want an application, you may call our office to have one emailed to you, or drop by and pick one up at the Cooperative Extension Office at 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs. You're welcome to attend the monthly Master Gardener meeting which is held on the third Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 132 Abbott Place. They're open to the public and guests are always welcome. For information call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email Allen Bates at [email protected].

EHC information

Would you be interested in joining an Extension Homemakers Club (EHC)? How about forming a new club in your community? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For more information, please call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email Alison Crane at [email protected].

4-H information

If you're between the ages of 5 and 19, you can join 4-H! We have a club for you, or you and a group of friends can organize your own club. For more information call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email [email protected].

Society on 10/22/2018

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