We had a great rain yesterday evening so I was able to turn off the irrigation on timers for today. I did a quick walk around this morning just to check on everything. To my dismay I found fresh cut needles on the top of the soil in many of the pine pots. They looked clean cut, almost as if I had sheared them off. I have done no pruning so it was not that.
All signs point to a wasp I have seen for years. Wahoo172 and I have discussed this as he has seen wasps cutting needles on his pines too. The extent of the cutting in the past has been very small, just a few needles here and there. Apparently they had a party this morning - on my pine bench.
Here's the question - how can I deal with these pests? If they continue at the rate they did this morning I'll have defoliated pines in a week or so.
I'll try to get a photo of one in action soon so it can be identified.
All signs point to a wasp I have seen for years. Wahoo172 and I have discussed this as he has seen wasps cutting needles on his pines too. The extent of the cutting in the past has been very small, just a few needles here and there. Apparently they had a party this morning - on my pine bench.
Here's the question - how can I deal with these pests? If they continue at the rate they did this morning I'll have defoliated pines in a week or so.
I'll try to get a photo of one in action soon so it can be identified.