European beech pest ID

[pandacular]

Today, I noticed many of the buds on my European beech ‘Mercedes’ were covered in a white substance. I couldn’t get a great picture, but it looked like a mix of fuzzy white flecks and round, clear balls (eggs?)

I suspect it is a type of aphid, but I’m not familiar with the pests involved. I moved it away from my other beeches, sprayed the affected sections with water to remove as much as I could, then treated with neem and soap.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Wooly Beech scale?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Beech have a very sensitive cuticle and don't deal well with soap that's usually in a neem suspension.
I would try an insecticide that attacks these bugs specifically.

They look like whooly aphids.

 

[shohin_branches]

Looks like wooly beech scale. Remove what you can with a hose spray followed up with a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to get the stubborn ones. Then treat with a systemic.

 

[JudyB]

I would use the Bayer tree and shrub for the systemic, it does take some time for it to get uptake. Just be careful not to overdose on it, as it can cause leaf deformation in some sensitive plants.

 

[pandacular]

Thanks for the input; my research on beech wooly aphid has led me to believe that its unlikely terribly harmful for the plant, and the treatment I’ve done has reduced the population significantly. I’ll continue keeping an eye on it, and will probably give all my trees a systemic—I’ve been meaning to get around to it anyway.

 

[BobbyLane]

Yup wooley aphids. Im just using water n washing up liquid in a spray bottle atm, every few days spraying the leaves and surfaces. Seems to be keeping the plants bug free. But I did use an organic insecticide at bud swell, also during winter. The one I have has a oily, milky texture, the bugs dont like it at all.

 

[BobbyLane]

This stuff is very good

https://www.gardenworld.co.uk/product/organic-rose-guard/

Organic Rose Guard works by physical action providing protection against aphids, powdery mildew and other leaf diseases. After drying, it creates a residual barrier to limit spore germination.

Spraying removes bugs, fungal spores, dust and grease from the plant preventing pests from laying eggs and allowing maximum light exposure for plant photosynthesis.

This is the winter wash I use. Very effective. They dont like the oil in both products.

https://www.gardenworld.co.uk/product/winter-tree-wash/

Winter Tree Wash is a blend of natural plant and fish oils for control of insect and aphid eggs on fruit trees and bushes during the dormant season.

Suitable for organic gardening, it can be used on both edible and ornamental crops.

Winter Tree Wash:

• Removes insect debris, dust and wax which insects can use to secure their eggs onto the plant or tree
• Clears the plant of eggs, larvae an nymphs of aphids and insects
• Works purely by physical means.

Controlling eggs and larvae laid by insects such as greenfly, blackfly and whitefly, Winter Tree Wash can be used on most fruit trees and bushes including apple, pear, plum, cherry and raspberry plus many more.

 

[pandacular]

I actually got this particular plant after doing my dormant spraying, so that explains why it alone has been impacted. I will be more careful next time!

Thanks for the resources, Bobby.

 

[shohin_branches]

I actually got this particular plant after doing my dormant spraying, so that explains why it alone has been impacted. I will be more careful next time!

Thanks for the resources, Bobby.

The trees have a way of reminding us why some things are important. I wasn't very careful about spraying, and I had some issues this spring.