Avondale Redbud Tree Pests

The Avondale Redbud tree, otherwise known as the Chinese Redbud tree or Cercis chinensis, is an easy-to-grow and adaptable tree. Like all foliage, however, it has predators. Fortunately, Avondale Redbud tree pests are common, and most are easily preventable or removable.

Types

Borers, including this Japanese beetle, are among the Avondale Redbud's pests.

The most common tree pests for the Avondale Redbud are scale insects, whiteflies, webworms and leaf rollers. The Japanese beetle, and other types of beetles, are also among the Avondale Redbud's pests.

Identification

Webworms and leaf rollers are caterpillars.

Japanese beetles are small and have metallic green bodies and copper-brown wings with small tufts of white hairs under the wing covers. Other borers, such as the larvae of beetles, flies and moths, are hard to identify because they are concealed beneath the tree's bark or wood. Scale insects are either armored or soft and appear as a colored, raised area on the leaf or stem that is easily removed by a fingernail or knife. Whiteflies are easily identified because they appear powdery, and a white cloud will rise from foliage when disturbed if it is infested with whiteflies. Webworms and leaf rollers are closely related because both are the caterpillars of moths. Leaf rollers wrap leaves around themselves and proceed to eat the leaves from the inside of their protection. Webworms build webs of silk around leaves at branch ends.

Symptoms

Dead leaves are a symptom of pests.

Avondale Redbud trees that are infected with one or more of these common tree pests show distinctive signs. If a tree is besieged by borers, the first evidence is the beetles themselves. When infected with scale insects, the tree's leaves will turn yellow and drop, twigs and limbs may die, and the bark cracks and gums. Symptoms of whitefly infestation include mottled yellow leaves, a sticky substance called honeydew, poor growth and defoliation. Trees infected with leaf rollers first show signs of chewed leaves, which will turn brown and drop in late summer. In the case of webworms, the tree has webs of silk at the end of its branches.

Prevention

A few methods can be used to prevent or discourage these common pests from targeting Avondale Redbud trees. Before being introduced, new plantings should be inspected for telltale signs of the pests, and the leaves and parts of the tree that are infected removed. Also, introducing beneficial biological controls such as spiders, ladybugs and lacewings is recommended. Woodpeckers are a natural way to prevent an infestation of beetles, and they can be encouraged by offering suet in the cooler months. One of the easiest ways to prevent attacks by insects is to maintain the vigor of the tree by proper watering and fertilizing, and providing well-drained soil and adequate light and air movement.

Removal

If one or more of the pests attack an Avondale Redbud tree, methods to remove the pests include pruning, manual removal and chemical controls. In the case of a scale infestation, pruning heavily infested shoots and limbs or treating with a dormant spray of refined horticultural oil is effective. Whiteflies can be trapped using petroleum jelly or heavy-grade motor oil. Leaf rollers and webworms should be handpicked and destroyed, and the tree should be sprayed with horticultural oil. Beetles should be removed and the tree treated with insecticide. Trap crops such as borage, white geraniums and evening primroses can be used to draw Japanese beetles away from Avondale Redbud trees.

References

• Missouri Botanical Garden, Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Cercis Chinensis
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Cercis Canadensis "Flame:" "Flame" Eastern Redbud
• North Carolina State University, JC Raulston Arboretum: Current Plantings--Cercis Chinensis