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Needle loss & droppings on weeping white spruce

Novice Gardener

5 years ago

Noticed full branches losing needles on two weeping white spruce.

Initially thought transplant shock exacerbated by the heat wave we're having now. They were planted early this spring as B&B transplants.

Upon further inspection, I noticed what looks like droppings near/on the limbs that lost needles.

I removed as much as I can by hand, what is this?

Thank you!

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Comments (5)

bengz6westmd
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Not sure, but kinda looks like "frass" (poop) from caterpillars/larvae. If you don't see them, they might have been there and now gone. Sawfly larvae are notorious needle-eaters.
Novice Gardener thanked bengz6westmd
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Lucky I caught these before they ate all of P. Banksiana Uncle Fogy. They work quickly for sure. I was watching them for a few minutes, they seem to have endless bellies. Probably because they poop a lot. I used a “general” bug killer and it did not appear to harm the tree (and I used a lot, Spectrum brand in the 1 gallon or slightly smaller container, I already had it which is why I used it). I also used a bunch on a columnar white pine to treat the pine bark adelgid. There were a lot of white splotches/patchy areas where branches come out of main trunk and it seems to work decent though I will spray the pine once more before winter. No noticeable harm to pine. Apparently I bought this pine infected or they developed quickly but for 4 years Ive been concerned if it would make it(even though though I didnt treat it for 4 years lol). Now I am rather confident it will be fine. Just need to stay on it and spray periodically. But the amount of white has gone down for sure.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
many of them only eat old needles.. not the current year ...

isnt that what happened on uncle fogy??

ken
Novice Gardener thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I only saw them eating green needles. I didnt time them but it looked like one could eat an entire needle in a few minutes or less. After watching the needles getting shorter, I blasted them with deep woods off followed by spectrum insect killer. A few days before, that dead branch was fine. These 80-100 sawfly larvae ate all those needles in probably 2-4 days if I had to guess. I see Fogy most days and it was fine. Then these buggers arrived and went to town. I watched one eat: chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp, every second chomp, nonstop chomp as the needle disappears before your very eyes.
Novice Gardener thanked User
Novice Gardener
Original Author
5 years ago
Wow that's a lot of damage on uncle fogy! Crazy that the whole plant might have been decimated so quickly if you didn't catch them.

I'm glad they didn't do that much damage on the spruce.

Has anyone used Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Granules? It's listed to control many pests including sawfly larvae and has really good reviews.

https://www.bioadvanced.com/products/tree-shrub-care/12-month-tree-shrub-protect-feed-ready-use-granules

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