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Damage to Silver Birch Leaves

nick.cleenick.clee Posts: 3
in Problem solving

imageCan anyone identify this leaf eating insect, and advise how to treat?

Last edited: 25 August 2017 07:18:29

Posts

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904

    Never heard tell of such a thing. It's very pretty. image

  • nick.cleenick.clee Posts: 3

    Thanks for the reply, but is this not the cause of the damage to the leaves, and is the tree, newly planted within the last 2 weeks, in danger?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    And don't forget ... ladybirds are carnivores ... unlike us they survive without eating their veggies image

    So no sprays, no potions ... anything you apply to kill aphids or mildew will kill the ladybirds too ... and the ladybirds will do the job much better, and be back next year and the next to carry on doing the job.

    Your tree is creating an ecosystem image

    Last edited: 25 August 2017 09:15:09


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Agree that it's a ladybird larvae, one of the "good guys" in your garden....a keeper ?.  Ladybirds eat the sap sucking aphids.  

    Don't worry too much about the leaves on your birch (they'll all be dropping off in the autumn), looking after the roots as it establishes is more important.  Newly planted trees/shrubs need a good deep soaking at ground level at least once a week so they don't dry out.

  • nick.cleenick.clee Posts: 3

    Thanks for all replies, I am wiser (hopefully) than I was. Nick

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