Please help identifying problem with olive tree

[Alex314]

My olive tree developed some issues - the leaves are developing whitish spots and die. See the picture below...

Is it a fungus of some kind? Doesn't look like a typical peacock spot...

Could it be over-watering? This tree was watered too much recently, I am afraid...

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What do the undersides look like?

 

[leatherback]

Doesn't look like a typical peacock spot...

It is not typical peacock. Could be another fungal infection, but..

I am thinking a small sucking insect, thrips or so. Have you checked for tiny bugs?

 

[Alex314]

What do the undersides look like?

Black spots, slightly shiny. As if some viscous liquid was deposited in small drops. See the picture.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Probably soot from a sucking insect working on the undersides of the leaves. Check for lace bugs or something similar. Usually Imidacloprid is more effective than Malathion for these.

 

[Alex314]

I am thinking a small sucking insect, thrips or so. Have you checked for tiny bugs?

Hmm... You may be right... I've found three small bugs under the leaves. Don't know what kind. See the picture below (the bug is a little squashed). The body is about 3 mm long.

Two things surprise me me though:
* It is hard to believe that 3-5 bugs could cause that much damage.
* These bugs are winged so they could easily fly from one branch to another. On my tree, the damage is quite focused - one branch is damaged, and another branch has no problems.

Anyway, I'll watch the tree carefully and will make sure to remove all bugs I find.

Thank you for your suggestion.

 

[Alex314]

Probably soot from a sucking insect working on the undersides of the leaves. Check for lace bugs or something similar. Usually Imidacloprid is more effective than Malathion for these.

Thank you, Brian.

 

[sorce]

Have a good look for scale too. Just in case.

Welcome to Crazy!

Good we ain't recommending spraying!

Sorce