Knowledgebase

Sick tree - is this little guy the culprit? #845089

Asked August 10, 2023, 11:36 AM EDT

Hello, I live in Eugene and have a sick tree (I'm not sure what kind of tree it is). The leaves are mottled and dying. I saw this little bug on one of the leaves yesterday. Is it the cause of the tree damage, maybe?

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

The pictures show what looks like a Stink Bug. These insects do feed on plants. They do cause damage to the plants as you are describing. It is possible they may be the cause of the tree problem.

Just to make sure they are the cause of the damage seen, can you look closely at the trees to see if any other insects are present and if so let me know and describe them and the damage.

Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you for contacting us at Extension. Rich

An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 12, 2023, 1:45 PM EDT
Hello Rich,

Thank you so much for your answer.

I looked at the tree for a long while this morning but didn't see any other bugs or eggs on the undersides of leaves. There is a lot of leaf damage that certainly looks like it could be from some type of bug. The bark looks healthy and intact.

Maybe I could put out a trap of some kind to see what wanders in?

Thank you again for your time.



On Sat, Aug 12, 2023 at 10:45 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied August 13, 2023, 8:06 PM EDT

Karessa:

Trapping can be useful when dealing with an insect that may be hard to find or comes out at night. I am however concerned about the damage your tree has. You may be dealing with a plant disease. It would be a good idea if you could bring samples from your tree to your local Extension-Master Gardeners.

Rich

An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 14, 2023, 1:07 PM EDT

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