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Curious about bay leaf suckers

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
edited June 2022 in Plants
Why do I never see anything if I uncurl newly curled bay leaves? Are the eggs too small for me to see or does the insect come back later to fill them?
And how does it make the leaf curl?
Can only find information about the effects. I'm very familiar with that!
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • Desi_in_LondonDesi_in_London Posts: 731
    edited June 2022
    I don't really know the answer, but the adults are about aphid sized, so i'm assuming the eggs are tiny. I sometimes find the grey fuzzy-ish larvae inside ( or possibly non-fuzzy larvae and their fuzzy poo/cocoon /whatever) but have never seen eggs. I'm short, my bay is (relatively) tall, so generally I only notice once the leaves are looking quite thickened and ugly so perhaps I only realise at a later stage than you. Doesn't seem to do anything other than cosmetic damage ( to the bay, and sneezing fits for me when I venture close) so I don't really do anything about it. 

    edited to correct the worst of the grammar.
    Kindness is always the right choice.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I tend to hose them off with a strong jet of water if they get to the fuzzy stage.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    The curling is probably due to the way the insect feeds  by inserting its stylet/mouthparts (like a hypodermic needle) into the leaf. The curling is the plants response to this 'invasion'.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thanks @kate7. That's one mystery solved😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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