New pest decimating beech trees in HRM
Posted Jun 12, 2012 06:47:14 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A six-legged invader is infesting and damaging some of metro’s trees.
The beech leaf mining weevil was first noticed in Halifax last year, and since then it appears to have made itself comfortable.
The weevil primarily attacks beech trees, but will also damage fruit-bearing trees and some ornamental shrubs.
Waverley resident Roger Doyle tells the Chronicle Herald his nine beech trees were attacked as soon as the leaf buds appeared in this spring.
Now the leaves are brown and dead.
HRM’s environment manager says reports of affected trees are coming in from right across the municipality.
Richard McLellan says city officials are tracking the bugs and so far, say there’s no need to treat the trees or cut them down.
