If you have any spruce trees in your yard, you’re being asked to check for any yellow-headed spruce sawfly. Grande Prairie has suffered from an outbreak of the insect since 2006, and residents are asked to destroy any they find immediately.
Integrated Pest Management Technician Amy Needham explains early symptoms can look like fallen red needles, as young larvae can’t cleanly chew through them. However, when they are older, they can defoliate all new growth, which can lead to dieback and eventual death.