Common pests
- the blue willow leaf beetle
- the willow sawfly
- the willow gall sawfly
- the willow borer
The blue willow leaf beetle
You can recognize the pest Phyllodecta vitellinae with a bare eye eye on the three to six centimeters large, bronze, copper or blue colored larvae. The famous window damage is also visible. The beetle feeds on the leaves, which then turn brown. The first generation hatches in May or June, while the second in late autumn or winter is not long in coming. Older pastures usually do not suffer much damage. In young trees, however, an infestation can lead to death. That is why even fungicides are approved for treatment. But think carefully beforehand whether you really want to use them.
also read
- The types of pasture
- Hibernate woven willow in a pot
- The growth of the willow
The willow sawfly
The larvae of Nematus pavidus are considered to be particularly voracious. They eat their way from the leaf edge to the veins and leave only a small amount of foliage residue. The six to seven millimeters large pests have a striking appearance:
- glossy black head
- black dots
- colored mainly green
- with orange or yellow body parts
- black vertical stripes on the back
This beetle also occurs in two generations. Once it attacks the pasture from April to June, a second time from August to September. Large trees show comparatively little leaf loss. The treatment of young trees is similar to that of the willow leaf beetle.
The willow gall sawfly
Are there any reddish growths or leaf deformations on your pasture? Then there is an infestation of the willow gall sawfly. The symptoms appear primarily in June. The black wasp their larvae on the leaves. Although their infestation leads to an unsightly appearance, you do not have to fear major damage. Therefore treatment is not necessary.
The Willow Borer
The brownish butterfly with a wingspan of up to 10 cm lays its eggs under the bark of the willow. From then on, the 7 cm long caterpillars eat their way through the wood and leave behind fine crumbly substances. In the early stages, you should try to remove the larvae manually. In the worst case, the only thing that helps to prevent it from spreading further is to fell the willow.
