skip to main content

Florida Gardening Trees garden

What are these bugs eating my weeping willow?

6 years ago

I planted a weeping willow in my backyard last weekend. Today I noticed that many of the leaves have been chewed on, and I spotted a lot of these little black bugs on the backsides of the leaves. Any idea what they are and how I can get rid of them? Thank you!

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

6 years ago

i cant tell from the pic.. but do they look like the thing at the link ???

try not to presume what you see.. is actually the problem .. unless you see them actually eating the plant ... you have to be sure to rule out beneficial before you declare war ...

that said.. i could be wrong ... lets find out...

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ladybug+larvae&t=ffsb&iax=images&ia=images

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
That looks looks more like lacewing larvae to me. It is likely preying on the pests causing damage, since it is a carnivore and only eats other insects - mainly aphids. Those chewed edges on the leaves suggest leaf notcher insects or caterpillars. The lacy looking damage might be from newly hatched caterpillars.

Here is some info from the university of FL:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st576

From the linked page:

"Some of its pests are scales, caterpillars, borers, and aphids. The willow is a favored host for the gypsy moth."
jem07 thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
Related Discussions
HELP! What is Eating My Roses & Weeping Cherry?
Q
Comments (1)
The cherry might have Eastern Tent Caterpillars--do you see webs? The remedy is a BT product such as Di-pel. This is harmless to beneficial insects. Tent caterpillars will drop down and travel, and they do eat roses. They are good-sized, fuzzy and tan with a dark longitudinal stripe. Look on the underside of rose leaves for greenish-white worms (rose slugs) and squish them. Di-pel doesn't work on these, but it would work on other caterpillars on roses.
...See More
Weeping Willow is making me weep
Q
Comments (11)
Sorry for the sideways pics. Phone was portrait and they were portrait when I saw on the computer screen then turned sideways when I uploaded them here. I will go back to the Test Forum and try to do better next time. As for size-there are others in our area that were planted near the same time and those trees are huge maybe not 25' but really really tall. The stakes are there trying to train branches to grow on the north side of the tree. It did work. I've tried the "just let it grow" method and this is what I've ended up with so taking DZITMOIDONC's queue I went ahead and pruned the thing. Figured it wasn't doing good thus far so anything would be better. Just as I suspected all the weight of the long whips were keeping the branches from growing up and out. After pruning of course they sprung up and the tree became 2 feet taller and 3' wider! I guess not the right time of year but I couldn't stand it. I'm going to use the thickest cuttings and plant another nearby. Again, wrong time of year but our weather should be beautiful for the next 3 months and hopefully it will work. I thought you were supposed to plant trees in the fall. ?? I truly appreciate all of the advice and comments.
...See More
What to do - my neighbors new weeping willow?
Q
Comments (27)
Oh wow- sure, i'd love some, both for rooting (whatever size works best for that), and for the birds. Birds' size would probably be best at about 5/8 - 1" diameter. They can hold onto a perch as large as about 1.5", but if i don't give them good grip if the bark is slick, it's harder. Variance is good for their feet. I use the trimmings off my eucalyptus for them. Amazingly, even with the oils in it, it's another bird safe wood and they love stripping the bark and crunching the dried leaves. Only problem is it gets a little smelly once it dries out- goes from that lovely smell to sort of a cat pee smell, so the perch we made stays on the screen porch for them. :) I use my curly mulberry branches the same way- as support for other things. Only problem is the wood is weak once it's dead. So it doesn't last long at all. Good to know about bbush & caryopetris. Good thing they both root easily. I can see that being the case with both of those. I guess i just never considered that way of thinking with a tree. Makes sense for the fast growing ones, though. Though i don't reroot it, i do have to keep cutting back on the curly mulberry and it naturally seems to have large sections that die back on a few yr cycle.
...See More
What is eating the leaves on my weeping cherry?
Q
Comments (3)
I don't use any oils or pesticides for insect control as I grow organically. google Arbico. they specialize in beneficial insects. I ordered three praying manti egg cases. one for my yard and for my neighbors on both sides. one egg case hatches abou two hundred manti. They devour every insect you hate. and once they live out their life cycle they lay their own egg cases. so now I have an ongoing population of manti. I live an hour north of death Valley so its a desrt hot blazing summers freezing winters if my manti can stay alive year after year your area will support them as well. also consider Ladybugs these are literalyy the toughest bug in the pack they eat every single pest bug you can imagine problem is when they eat everything they move on to find more food. I even take my baby manti indoors to work over my bonsai and houseplants I leave a couple of windows open all the time for my cats to get in and out. so manti have an escape, or entrance if they choose. I grow vegetables, tobacco, fruit, housplants and bonsai. this was a permanent and inexpensive solution to my bug problem. Good Luck!!!!
...See More
jem07
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you. After seeing your posts, I knew that what I was seeing must have been a larvae. With a little more searching, I came across this:

http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/leafbeetle.htm

I'm pretty positive, those are on my tree!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
i wonder why stock you bought last WEEK ... is already bug infested ...

im not sure i would go slathering remedies on a recent transplant ... its already in shock ... another shock might not be indicated ....

ken
jem07 thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
jem07
Original Author
6 years ago
I purchased the tree at a local nursery. I wonder if the tree had these guys on it when I purchased it. I would have noticed them if they were the size they are now, but I'm assuming that they must have been smaller.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
You may be correct in that, jem07. They start out as eggs, right?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
talk to your seller ... see if they are concerned .. and what they might suggest ..... if for no other reason.. just out of curiosity ...... ken
jem07 thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Larix Decidua ‘Pendula’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Soft, graceful and sculptural, weeping larch is a star in northern U.S. gardens

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The Weepers and the Creepers: 10 Intriguing Trees for Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Bring something a little different to your landscape with a tree that dives, twists or crawls

BACKYARD IDEAS The Most Popular Outdoor Rooms of 2017

By Becky Harris

Step out onto these favorite porches, decks, patios and balconies

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Grow a Lush Privacy Screen

By Christine Tusher

No need to wait forever for patio privacy the green way. These 10 ideas will get your screening up and running in no time

ARBOR DAY 8 Reasons to Plant a Great Tree

By June Scott Design

Beauty is its own reward, but the benefits of planting the right tree in the right place go way beyond looks

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

MATERIALS Insulation Basics: What to Know About Spray Foam

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Learn what exactly spray foam is, the pros and cons of using it and why you shouldn’t mess around with installation

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 8 Patio Arrangements to Inspire Your Outdoor Room

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Let these patio furniture setups for spaces large and small motivate you to get outside this season

TREES 7 Deer-Resistant Flowering Trees to Plant this Fall

If you live in a neighborhood with roaming deer, consider these beautiful trees that won't tempt hungry guests

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The 7 Best Plant Types for Creating Privacy and How to Use Them

By Falon Mihalic

Follow these tips for using different kinds of plants as living privacy screens

Sponsored

More Discussions

2024 January : upload your photos of first blooms of season

19

Rats in the garden ID?

6

Garden plans for 2024?

6

Greening Satsuma

2

Leaving my final garden

1