Something is munching on my birch

[Lazylightningny]

Something is munching on a yellow birch I lifted. None of the other trees I have planted next to it are affected. It seems to happen only at night. I have seen no bugs or caterpillars anywhere near the tree. Attached photos show top and bottom of the leaf. Any ideas?

 

[jkd2572]

I would surprise them with insecticide.

 

[Lazylightningny]

this is war!

 

[jkd2572]

I have found that playing nice may end up with a dead tree.

 

[jk_lewis]

This is the time of year that insects are feeding heavily. That looks like caterpillars to me. Lots of them feed at night and hide during the day so birds don't find them. A powder spray with BT in it will take care of them.

 

[AboveBeyond]

This is the time of year that insects are feeding heavily. That looks like caterpillars to me. Lots of them feed at night and hide during the day so birds don't find them. A powder spray with BT in it will take care of them.

I concur. I had an infestation of caterpillars in the Spring and it looks similar to your picture. I used Thuricide and the worms dropped like flies a day or two after a single spraying.

 

[Lazylightningny]

This is the time of year that insects are feeding heavily. That looks like caterpillars to me. Lots of them feed at night and hide during the day so birds don't find them. A powder spray with BT in it will take care of them.

thanks guys.

btw, what's BT?

 

[Poink88]

thanks guys.

btw, what's BT?

I had the same question until I came to this. Check the link.

I concur. I had an infestation of caterpillars in the Spring and it looks similar to your picture. I used Thuricide and the worms dropped like flies a day or two after a single spraying.

...and this. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05556.html

 

[Paradox]

I've had something eating some of the leaves on my birch this summer. I did find a critter that looked like a stink bug hiding on it one day. Not sure if that was doing it (I think stink bugs eat fruit iirc) but it only happened wih a few leaves.

Edit: Apparently japanese beetles love birch leaves

 

[jk_lewis]

Stink bugs do NOT eat leaves. They suck the juices from them.

BT is Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria. It is 100% safe for the environment, people, pets, and fish and is deadly to caterpillars (and mosquito larvae). Mosquito dunks for fishponds and bird feeders contain BT.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis

 

[Lazylightningny]

thanks guys.

btw, what's BT?

nevermind, got it. Bacillus thuringiensis - bacterium specific to leaf-eating caterpillars.

 

[drew33998]

Grass Hoppers?

I have those huge red and yellow grasshoppers that destroy plants and trees without any regards to species. They eat all my landscaping plants and occasional try to go for my bonsai. Absolutely impossible to grow orchids outside without them eating all the leaves. However I believe that this species may only be native to Florida.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sfl-820grasshoppers,0,2677563.story

 

[Lazylightningny]

looks like a locust!

 

[jk_lewis]

I have those huge red and yellow grasshoppers that destroy plants and trees without any regards to species. They eat all my landscaping plants and occasional try to go for my bonsai. Absolutely impossible to grow orchids outside without them eating all the leaves. However I believe that this species may only be native to Florida.

Probably the "Lubber Grasshopper." They can grow to 3+ inches long. They eat anything that is green.