Birch tree dropping leaves - Ask Extension
I have 2 birch trees that are both dropping leaves. Attached are pictures of the fallen leaves.
Lakeville, Mn
Any help on what it is and what to do i...
Knowledgebase
Birch tree dropping leaves #346068
Asked July 24, 2016, 9:43 AM EDT
I have 2 birch trees that are both dropping leaves. Attached are pictures of the fallen leaves.
Lakeville, Mn
Any help on what it is and what to do is appropriated.
Thank you
Donald Harff
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
It is probably Japanese beetle (JB) damage. They love birch and they are feeding now. There are pesticides that are effective however the beetles rarely do enough damage to do significant harm to trees the damage is largely cosmetic.
Here is a bit more information.
Japanese beetles are skeletonizers that cause leaves to look lacy. Japanese beetles release a strong aggregation pheromone, and are commonly seen feeding and mating in clusters. Defoliation of well established, healthy tree is usually not fatal. Defoliation is most harmful to recently planted trees and trees in poor health. There are also a variety of residual insecticides that you spray directly onto the leaves that are effective, including pyrethroids like permethrin, bifenthrin, esvenfalerate, and lambda cyhalathron, and carbaryl. These sites have other pesticide recommendations. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg7664.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/ygnews/2011/08/japanese-beetle-jb-q-a.html
Japanese beetles are skeletonizers that cause leaves to look lacy. Japanese beetles release a strong aggregation pheromone, and are commonly seen feeding and mating in clusters. Defoliation of well established, healthy tree is usually not fatal. Defoliation is most harmful to recently planted trees and trees in poor health. There are also a variety of residual insecticides that you spray directly onto the leaves that are effective, including pyrethroids like permethrin, bifenthrin, esvenfalerate, and lambda cyhalathron, and carbaryl. These sites have other pesticide recommendations. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg7664.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/ygnews/2011/08/japanese-beetle-jb-q-a.html
