The most common pests of the elm
The elm is mainly attacked by three pests:
- the gall mite
- the bladder louse
- the elm scale insect
also read
- Instructions for caring for a bonsai elm
- The elm in the profile
- These pests threaten currants
The gall mite
An infestation of the gall mite can be determined comparatively easily. On the leaves of entire branches there are clear knots that are reminiscent of a toad skin. In the case of minor infestation, the elm only suffers passive damage by making it more susceptible to external conditions such as weather and other diseases. However, their growth is not affected. To remove the gall mite, it is best to remove the affected leaves immediately.
The bladder louse
The bladder louse looks primarily for field and mountain elms. The pests settle on the underside of the leaf. They cause conspicuous galls on the upper side of the leaf, which initially have a rich green color. Only in the course of summer do the pustules turn yellow before they turn brown in autumn and finally dry up. The gall louse does not cause any damage worth mentioning, but attracts ants and makes the leaves appear unaesthetic. In summer it even flies out and attacks the surrounding grasses. But once he has chosen an elm, he will always return to it to lay eggs. Again, you should remove affected leaves.
The elm scale insect
You can recognize an infestation by the elm scale insect from a wreath of wax threads, which you usually find on young shoots. It almost looks like would lie small snowflakes on the wood. You can rid your elm of the pest with a legally approved pesticide.
