Fill out the form below and a representative from our team will contact you.
Fill out the form below and a representative from our team will contact you.
Pests can affect trees in countless ways, from feeding on leaves and sap to burrowing into trunks and branches. Without professional care, pest infestations can get out of hand quickly, especially during peak seasons when pests are at their most active. American Arborists offers comprehensive tree pest management services focused on early detection, accurate identification, and seasonally timed treatments.
Our certified arborists evaluate each tree individually and recommend treatments based on pest type, tree species, and environmental conditions. This thoughtful approach helps reduce unnecessary applications while supporting healthy, resilient trees throughout the year.
Reno’s high desert climate plays a major role in how and when tree pests become active. Warm springs, hot summers, and periods of drought stress can weaken trees, making them more attractive to insects. Sudden temperature shifts and irrigation patterns can also influence pest life cycles and population growth.
Many pests emerge early in the season and, if conditions are right, reproduce quickly. Others remain active well into the fall, especially when trees are already stressed from the heat or limited moisture. Because pest activity in Reno follows seasonal patterns rather than a single timeline, professional scouting and treatment scheduling are essential.
Our pest management strategies have been carefully created with Reno’s climate conditions in mind to ensure treatments are applied when they are most effective and least disruptive to the surrounding environment.
Aphids are one of the most common and persistent tree pests found in Reno landscapes. Green aphids and woolly aphids feed on plant sap, which can weaken trees over time and interfere with normal growth. As aphid populations increase, they produce sticky honeydew that coats leaves, branches, and nearby surfaces, often leading to sooty mold growth.
Because aphids reproduce rapidly, early detection and proactive management are critical to preventing widespread infestations and long-term tree stress.
American Arborists provides professional aphid scouting and monitoring from February through October, covering the full window of potential aphid activity in Northern Nevada. During scouting visits, our arborists inspect foliage, branch tips, and bark for early signs of infestation, including curled leaves, discoloration, and cottony spots associated with woolly aphids.
Ongoing monitoring allows us to track population levels and determine the most effective treatment timing. This approach helps protect tree health while avoiding unnecessary applications when aphid pressure is low.
For aphid control, American Arborists uses Merit 2F Insecticide applied through soil injection. This method allows the insecticide to be absorbed by the tree’s root system and distributed internally, providing systemic protection against sap-feeding pests.
Merit 2F soil injections are available March through May, when trees are actively taking up nutrients and treatments are most effective. Soil injections minimize exposure to non-target areas and provide long-lasting control, making them an effective solution for managing both green and woolly aphids.
Caterpillar pests can cause significant damage in a short amount of time by feeding on leaves and young growth. Even moderate defoliation can stress trees, reducing their ability to produce energy and increasing vulnerability to other pests and diseases.
Because caterpillars are most damaging during specific life stages, proper timing is essential for successful control.
American Arborists conducts caterpillar pest scouting from March through May, when larvae are most active and feeding damage is easiest to identify. During scouting visits, our arborists look for chewed leaves, skeletonized foliage, and visible larvae on branches.
Early identification allows treatments to be applied before populations grow large enough to cause widespread defoliation. This proactive approach helps preserve tree health and maintain a full, healthy canopy.
When treatment is necessary, we apply Astro Insecticide as a foliar spray to target active caterpillar populations. Foliar applications allow for direct contact with feeding insects and provide effective control when applied during the correct window.
Astro insecticide foliar sprays are available March through May, aligning with peak caterpillar activity in the Reno area. Proper application timing ensures maximum effectiveness while minimizing stress to the tree.
Trunk borers are one of the most serious tree pests due to the internal damage they can cause. These insects lay eggs on or near the bark, and once larvae bore into the tree, they disrupt the flow of water and nutrients. Over time, infestations can lead to canopy thinning, branch dieback, and structural weakness. Because borer damage often occurs out of sight, professional monitoring and treatment are critical.
American Arborists provides trunk borer scouting from March through October, covering the extended period when borer activity may occur in Reno. Our arborists inspect trunks and major branches for entry holes, frass, sap flow, and other indicators of infestation.
Regular monitoring allows us to identify vulnerable trees and recommend treatment strategies before irreversible damage occurs.
To help protect trees from trunk borer infestations, American Arborists uses Astro Insecticide applied as a targeted trunk spray. This treatment is designed to protect vulnerable bark surfaces where adult borers lay eggs, helping interrupt the pest life cycle before larvae are able to penetrate the tree.
Astro trunk sprays are available March through October, aligning with the extended period of trunk borer activity in the Reno area. Applications are carefully timed based on scouting observations, tree species, and environmental conditions to ensure effective coverage without unnecessary treatments. When used as part of a proactive pest management plan, trunk sprays can play an important role in reducing borer pressure and preserving overall tree health.
Tree pest management is most effective when it follows the natural life cycles of insects and the seasonal growth patterns of trees. Treating too early or too late can reduce effectiveness and lead to repeated infestations.
By combining seasonal scouting with targeted treatment windows, American Arborists helps ensure pests are addressed at the right time. This approach reduces overall chemical use, protects beneficial insects, and supports healthier trees over the long term. Seasonal pest management is especially important in Reno, where climate conditions can accelerate pest activity.
At American Arborists, we bring local expertise, certified arborist knowledge, and a commitment to science-based tree care to every project. We understand the specific pest pressures affecting trees in Reno and tailor our services to meet those challenges.
Our team focuses on proactive monitoring, precise treatment timing, and long-term tree health. By using professional-grade products and responsible application methods, we help protect your trees while preserving the surrounding landscape.
If you are concerned about pest activity or want to protect your trees before damage occurs, American Arborists is here to help. With expert scouting and seasonally timed treatments, we can help keep your trees healthy, strong, and thriving year after year. Contact our team today to schedule a professional tree pest evaluation in Reno, NV.
