Something Eating my New Crab Apple Trees

15 years ago

We got some new collonade crab apple trees for our small yard this year. Planted new in the spring and they have been doing beautifully.

However, lately, something has been completely devouring leaves. From the eating pattern and the "poop" on the lower leaves, I would assume a caterpiller of sorts.

I have scoured the plant and cannot find any bug on them at all, but the devouring is continuing and I find new "poop" daily.

When I Googled, I saw that most of the caterpillers that like crab apples will not kill the tree, but they also seemed to be the web and tent caterpillers.

I am concerned because there are no webs or tents on the trees and since they are so young the devouring could be affecting their growth.

I did spray once with BT for caterpillers, and there seems to be less visible waste, but I am not sure.

I guess it could also be a Beetle of some sort, but I have not seen a single one on the plants.

Here are some pics:

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thanks

kendra

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Comments (5)

Scott F Smith
15 years ago
It looks like caterpillar damage to me. Several kinds mainly come out at night. Keep hitting with that Bt and also pay a night visit and squish any offenders.

Scott
ardnek710
Original Author
15 years ago
so since we haven't been able to find anything during the day. we went out there tonight and the trees were swarmed with what looks like june bugs (beetles).

looked like they were mating and gorging and generally having a grand ole time on my trees.

I am assuming that these are probably the problem. Any tips for getting rid of them and/or preventing them.

kendra
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praying mantis eats BUGS... its a predator.. and totally beneficial to your garden ... google should have told you that ... [momma is even known to eat daddy .. whats that all about????] you should start your own post.. in any appropriate forum .. as your questions cover many different plants ... as to the apple... if tiny ... under a foot or two.. it should have remained potted ... in proper planting media for a tree .... is this from seed from an apple you ate???? ... if so .. genetics tells us.. you might not end up with a good eating apple .... [hint, hint .. research that] or extremely protected ... if in mother earth .... i would have used a rose cone without a top for a year or two ... rake the soil around the plant.. in the evening.. and see if you can see any tracks in the morning ... think rabbit.. or droppings ... most bugs can not strip a plant bare overnight.. you would see chew marks on parts of leaves remaining ... so i am thinking something bigger ... squirrels ... tend to dig up young plants.. trying to look for whatever you hid under the soil.. idiots.. lol ... rather than eating the plant .... but you never know.. they are insane ... start your own post.. and add a pic.. if you want more than guessing ...and i am telling you to encourage you to start and join a new conversation... not chiding you for throwing this at the end of some very old post ... live an learn.. and we like to teach... so go for it... good luck ken
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jellyman
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Kendra:

Brown beetles that feed at night are most likely the Rose Chafer or Masked Chafer beetle. Japanese beetles normally feed in the daytime.

The recipe for all these beetle types is the same: Sevin liquid mixed with the appropriate amount of water. Since your trees are small, application could be made with a 1 quart hand trigger sprayer. Sevin liquid is sold at your local Lowes and Home Depot, as well as any nursery. You can also find trigger sprayers there, as well as at Wal-Mart.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
ardnek710
Original Author
15 years ago
don, thanks for the info, is there anything else i can use besides Sevin? I believe, i've read about a nematode for the soil that will take care of their grubs?

Also, a little later in the evening, there were only a few beetles left and much later (around 4am) there were none. Is this normal for them to disappear after a little while? Can they do that much damage in such a short time?

Here is a pic of what we caught last night.

{{gwi:123341}}
{{gwi:123342}}

thanks
kendra
mappold
15 years ago
FYI, I've been having the exact same problem with june bugs devouring the leaves of two young apple trees (Liberty and Redfree) that I planted a couple of years ago. This year was especially bad--the trees have been completely defoliated, only the naked leaf stems remain. The bugs never show themselves in daylight, but when I've gone out at night between 10 pm and midnight the leaves are covered with them. If the trees survive, I definitely want to take action next spring.

Something Eating my New Crab Apple Trees

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Scott F Smith

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