Something is killing my Mimosa tree - Ask Extension
I know a lot of people do not like Mimosa's, but I love mine. I have two large ones in my yard and they create a beautiful canopy! One of them has b...
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Something is killing my Mimosa tree #363671
Asked September 18, 2016, 3:05 PM EDT
I know a lot of people do not like Mimosa's, but I love mine. I have two large ones in my yard and they create a beautiful canopy! One of them has been dropping branches and it was so nice and neat I thought one of my neighbors was cutting it back, but after nearly a year, I have actually watched them fall with my own eyes. Please help me identify what is eating it and what can I do?
Galveston County Texas
Expert Response
Appear to be damage from in insect known as Twig Girdlers (also called Long-horned beetles . . . the adult stage has very long antenna)
The female and deposit an egg just beneath the bark on branches on the far side (from the trunk) the cut area (larvae cannot feed/live off of live woody tissues). They may or may not be a problem next year so not much can be done to control by application of an insecticide. Strongly suggest picking up all dropped branches (as the larva will likely be feeding inside). Not all branches will drop and larva will be feeding inside branches that have been girdled but remain on the tree. Look upward into the tree canopy for such branches and remove.
Here are two good websites for more information:
https://blogs.k-state.edu/kansasbugs/2015/09/11/in-my-yard-twig-girdler-at-last/
http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/twiggirdler.htm
By the way...what city do you reside in? May schedule a time to visit to get some photos.
The female and deposit an egg just beneath the bark on branches on the far side (from the trunk) the cut area (larvae cannot feed/live off of live woody tissues). They may or may not be a problem next year so not much can be done to control by application of an insecticide. Strongly suggest picking up all dropped branches (as the larva will likely be feeding inside). Not all branches will drop and larva will be feeding inside branches that have been girdled but remain on the tree. Look upward into the tree canopy for such branches and remove.
Here are two good websites for more information:
https://blogs.k-state.edu/kansasbugs/2015/09/11/in-my-yard-twig-girdler-at-last/
http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/twiggirdler.htm
By the way...what city do you reside in? May schedule a time to visit to get some photos.
