Characteristics of powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that infects a broad spectrum of plants, including trees and shrubs, perennials, grasses, fruits and vegetables. It is not a single disease but is caused by a group of…
Characteristics of tar spot
Maple tar spot is a common fungal disease caused by three related fungi in the genus Rhytisma. The symptoms may vary slightly depending on the strain of the fungus but all three fungi produce dark, slightly…
Toronto is the epicentre of a North American infestation of the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker). The arrival of this invasive pest was officially announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in November 2018. The moth crossed into the…
The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a wood-boring beetle native to Asia that feeds and kills Ash trees (Fraxinus genus). The beetle’s larva bores through the bark into the cambium creating serpentine galleries where it feeds on the phloem,…
The bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius) is a beetle native to North America. The borers’ larval feeding tunnels under the bark girdle the trunk or branch of the tree and interrupt the flow of nutrients and sap which eventually leads…
Birch leafminer (Fenusa pusilla) is the most common of several larval insects that mine birch leaves. This small sawfly is native to Europe but has become a major pest of birches in North America.
The adult sawfly is a small,…
