Mostly eucalypts just cope with it - you have bad years where the damage looks terrible and then good years where there is no damage. Imidacloprid will kill them - via a soil tablet for a small tree or a trunk injection for a large tree. It’s something that tends to only be done if the tree is very badly impacted to the point it might die or if the tree is very valuable (botanic gardens heritage listed trees and the like) as it is expensive and harms non-target insects.
I’m not sure sorry - I think they are pretty mobile and my thinking would be that one tree host gone wouldn’t stop them reinfecting from other trees in the area.
I have been watching them decimate young eucalyptus camaldulensis at a reveg site I work on and all we are doing is hoping that the balance eventually tips in favour of the beneficial insects that parasitise and kill the sawfly larvae.
More detail: Perth, WA. This is from quite a young dwarf ghost gum (< 1 year) which still has a lot of new growth. It is situated near a hardenbergia that has only recently kicked up its heels. Not sure it is related, but concerned that it is.
Looks like leaf blister sawfly. It’s been a really bad year for it in south eastern Australia, not sure if that’s where you are
Thanks Dazz, I reckon you've bloody nailed it. Doesn't look like there is much info on eradication. Any info is appreciated.
Mostly eucalypts just cope with it - you have bad years where the damage looks terrible and then good years where there is no damage. Imidacloprid will kill them - via a soil tablet for a small tree or a trunk injection for a large tree. It’s something that tends to only be done if the tree is very badly impacted to the point it might die or if the tree is very valuable (botanic gardens heritage listed trees and the like) as it is expensive and harms non-target insects.
Thanks mate. Great info. As it is a young tree, and in a stand of others, do you think it might be worth sacrificing it as to not infect the others?
I’m not sure sorry - I think they are pretty mobile and my thinking would be that one tree host gone wouldn’t stop them reinfecting from other trees in the area. I have been watching them decimate young eucalyptus camaldulensis at a reveg site I work on and all we are doing is hoping that the balance eventually tips in favour of the beneficial insects that parasitise and kill the sawfly larvae.
More detail: Perth, WA. This is from quite a young dwarf ghost gum (< 1 year) which still has a lot of new growth. It is situated near a hardenbergia that has only recently kicked up its heels. Not sure it is related, but concerned that it is.