Tree damaging insects such as the emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, and Asian longhorned beetle are threatening urban forests in Idaho.  City workers and arborists play an important role on the front lines of the battle to keep invasive pest species out of our state.   Being able to identify the pests and their patterns of damage associated with them will enable arborists to notify the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) if an outbreak occurs in their area.

At the APHIS website you can do your research by looking at picture galleries of the pests in all their life stages and the damage they do.  Information about the biology of the pests, regulations, controls and restoration after the damage, is also available on the website. 

Insects aren’t the only organisms that are likely to damage to our urban forests.  Diseases such as European larch canker and thousand cankers disease are potential threats.  The APHIS website has information on these diseases that you can use for identification.

To report a pest or disease in Idaho you can contact the State Plant Health Director. Prompt notification of the presence of invasive insects and diseases can help stop or contain outbreaks and limit damage to Idaho’s urban and community forests.