• A small aphidlike insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid, has killed millions of Eastern hemlock trees in at least 11 Eastern states from North Carolina to southern New England.

• Japanese beetles still cost the plant industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year, eating tree and shrub leaves and grass roots. Infestations are reported in Eastern states and as far west as Iowa and Missouri.

"It can cost hundreds of dollars to cut down just one tree that's destroyed by insects," said Lance Walheim, Bayer Advanced™ Garden Expert and co-author of "Landscaping for Dummies." "Prevention will save you a lot of money in the long run."

To help fight the spread of all dangerous tree-eating insects, consider the following tips:

• Learn to identify tree-eating insects. Do Internet research, contact a tree or shrub expert at your local nursery or call an agricultural extension agent in your area so you know what to look for.

• Examine trees regularly. Signs of trouble include dead or dying limbs, poorly colored or eaten leaves, a thinning canopy or a trunk and main scaffold branches oozing plant sap.

• Take preventive measures. Bayer Advanced offers two solutions for your consideration: 12 Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control and 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed-both contain Merit® and are no-spray, preventive solutions.

Mix 12 Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control in a watering can and pour at the base of a tree. Or sprinkle granules of 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed around the base of the tree. Both products are absorbed through the roots and move through the tree, protecting it against a long list of insects. One application protects for up to 12 months.

For every bottle of Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control purchased in spring 2007, Bayer Advanced™, in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation, will donate one tree to restore U.S. national forests.

You can learn more by visiting www.bayeradvanced.com, calling (877) BAYERAG or visiting the Arbor Day Foundation Web site at Arborday.

Trees are under attack by a variety of insects. There are ways you can protect your trees and not have to cut them down. Stop by the Nursery for details on your specific situation.