Box Tree Moth: A Toronto Master Gardeners Garden Guide

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…

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB): A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

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,…

Bronze Birch Borer: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

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: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

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,…