Over the past few years, white spruce and balsam fir have been defoliated by the spruce budworm, one of the most destructive native insects in the northern spruce and fir
forests of the eastern United States and Canada.“This year, budworm defoliation is widespread and expected to be heavy for the second or third years in many areas,” said Bob Heyd, forest health specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Marquette.
Periodic outbreaks of these insects are a part of the natural cycle of events associated with the maturing of balsam fir and white spruce.
Spruce budworms overwinter as tiny caterpillars which disperse by dropping from treetops on webs. As new tree growth expands in the spring, the caterpillars grow and feed on new shoots. Budworms produce one generation each year.
Repeated budworm defoliation can cause top-kill and tree mortality in older and stressed trees. Balsam fir older than 60 and spruce over 70 years old provide prime infestation opportunities.
Younger trees infested with spruce budworms lose much of their new growth, but generally survive.
Balsam fir is most severely damaged by budworms. White and black spruces are also budworm hosts with some feeding occurring on tamarack, pine and hemlock trees. Spruce trees in stands with balsam fir are more likely to suffer budworm damage than spruce in pure stands — although all older, mature to over-mature stands are at higher risk of budworm infestation.
Heyd said this is the time of year to combat spruce budworms.
“Check your trees for signs of budworm activity,” he added. “Most of the damage is done between now and late June when the budworms pupate and are done feeding for the year.”
To protect landscape trees, Heyd recommends treating trees now before caterpillars grow larger.
The DNR recommends keeping the following in mind prior to treating trees:
- Biological sprays with “Bt” or garden-variety insecticides are effective.
- Follow label directions when selecting and applying a spray.
- Be sure to reach the top of the trees where defoliation is heaviest.
- Treatment with biological sprays may need to be repeated if heavy rains occur within a few days.
- Watering trees during dry periods helps trees recover from the stress of early season budworm defoliation.
“If the budworm outbreak continues to expand into Michigan’s spruce and fir resource, we can expect significant losses over the next decade,” Heyd said.
For more information on forest health issues, visit: www.michigan.gov/foresthealth.
