Poplar Tree Pests
Poplars (Populus spp.) are medium-to-large deciduous trees found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Poplar species go by many common names including aspens, cottonwoods and tulip trees. They are low maintenance trees with few problems once established in home landscapes, according to the University of California. However, several insects survive at the expense of a poplar trees' health, and these common pests severely damage young poplar trees if left untreated. Does this Spark an idea?
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Poplar Borer
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The poplar borer (Cryptorhynchus lapathi), also called the willow borer, is a common weevil pest found across the United States. The small, black weevil is covered with dense bristles and sometimes has a mottled appearance. The adult weevils chew small entrance holes on fresh poplar tree growth and lay eggs inside the wood. The larvae mine small tunnels through the wood as they develop and cause streaking and dieback of small branches. Removing and destroying infested branches prevents further weevil problems. Apply a persistent pesticide if adult weevil populations remain high.
Poplar Bud Gall Mite
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Poplar bud gall mites (Eriophyes parapopuli) are microscopic insects difficult to directly detect on poplar trees. The affects of these miniature pests are easily recognizable. The bud gall mites prevent new leaf buds from opening normally. Instead, the buds swell between 1 to 2 inches and develop a woody texture called a gall. Bud gall mites live and feed inside the gall. Galls disrupt the natural development of branches and if a large percentage of a limb is infested with bud gall mites, the branch may die back.
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Yellow Poplar Weevil
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The yellow poplar weevil (Odontopus calceatus), also known as the tulip leafminer and magnolia leafminer, is a common pest in poplar leaves. Adult weevils feed on mature trees' leaves and flower buds. They deposit eggs in small holes they chew in the leaves. The larvae excavate holes or mines through the leaves, leaving a visible trail on the leaf surface. In large numbers, yellow poplar weevils cause significant defoliation, but the pests are rarely a serious problem for mature trees, according to the University of Florida.
Poplar Petiole Gall Aphids
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Poplar petiole gall aphids infest the leaf stems of poplar trees. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that also feed on the plant sap of other garden plants such as lettuces and cucurbits with their long, piercing mouthparts. Adult aphids deposit eggs on poplar bark in the fall, where the eggs overwinter. In the spring, the eggs hatch and the larvae find their way to leaf stems where they feed. The stem swells and envelops the feeding larvae in a hard, fibrous gall. The larvae continue feeding in the gall until they are mature in the late summer and fly away to feed, mate and lay the next generation of eggs. Gall aphids are not particularly harmful to mature poplars, but the pests can severely damage other garden crops, according to Washington State University.
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References
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