Here's a link to our current episode of Creative Gardens on Channel 8 here in Saugus, Ma. on SCTV

http://vimeo.com/44269759

Here's a link to our current episode of Creative Gardens w/ The Saugonian Gardener....Watch and enjoy...Comments always welcome please. We'd enjoy your feedback.. Thank you.

http://vimeo.com/44269759

Greetings from Creative Gardens w/ The Saugonian Gardener

Today, episode 2 is now available on Channel 8 with SCTV, with episode 3 coming within the next couple weeks. 

With this episode we covered various email questions sent in from viewers. The following is an article made available from Ohio State university Extension Service regarding Birch Leaf Miner, and Birch Borer infestations.

The article is being posted for the sole purpose of information to aid in the eradication of Birch Leaf Miner in local Birch trees in home landscapes.

Descriptions of insect life cycle, damage and control are shown as means of control and prevention from damage from Leaf Miner infestations in Birch trees.

Follow up and further information is available to you free of charge on our program email address at sctvgarden@comcast.net and links to other sites can be found on my web site at http://www.hortservices.net

Drop us a line at our email address and let us know if the following article was helpful.

Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Entomology

1991 Kenny Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1090

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Birch Leafminer

HYG-2035-91

David J. Shetlar
James A. Chatfield
The birch leafminer, Fenusa pusilla (Lepeletier), is a small sawfly native of Europe that was first detected in Connecticut in 1923. It has since spread throughout northeastern North America.
The larvae of the sawfly make blotch mines in the leaves of most birches (Betula). Severe damage may occur to paper birch (B. papyrifera), gray birch (B. populifolia), and European white birch (B. pendula). Black birch (B. lenta), yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis), river birch (B. nigra) and monarch birch (B. maximowicziana) are less susceptible.
The adult sawfly is a small, 1/4 inch long, black, fly-like wasp. The larva is very flat, lives within birch leaves and is white with three black spots on the lower surface.

Type of Damage

Damage to birch trees is done by the larval stage as it feeds between the upper and lower layers of the leaves. This feeding produces large blotch mines in the leaves. Often, several larvae will completely mine a single leaf. Multiple generations and high populations can cause damage to almost every leaf by mid-summer. The mines turn brown and will cause the tree to look dead with wilted brown leaves. This forces the tree to refoliate and reduces its ability to produce food for growth. This damage may also make the trees more susceptible to bronze birch borer attack. Though the adult birch leafminers are related to wasps, they do not have a sting.

Figure 1. Birch leaf damage. Early mines on left and late mines on right.

Life Cycle and Habits

Mature larvae overwinter in the soil under host trees. When the soil warms in the spring these prepupae pupate, usually in April, to transform into the adult stage. Within a few weeks the adult sawflies dig out from their earthen cells and fly to the newly expanding foliage of birches. The small black adults prefer to mate and oviposit on the upper leaves, especially in sunny areas. Mated females use their needle-like ovipositor to punch a hole in the leaf and lay eggs. Often the female withdraws the ovipositor without laying an egg. The damaged spot may turn brown as the leaf expands and hardens. The eggs are often visible in the tissues between the major leaf veins. They may appear as small raised spots on the leaf surface. Within 7 to 10 days the eggs hatch into tiny flattened larvae with wide front segments. These larvae produce a blotch mine that may join with others. The old mines may contain considerable amounts of dark fecal pellets. The larvae mature in 14 to 20 days and are about 1/4 inch long. By this time the larva have the diagnostic small black square marks on their lower surface. Mature larvae cut a hole in the leaf epidermis and drop to the ground. Here they dig one to two inches into the soil to form a pupation chamber. Birch leafminers usually produce two to three generations a summer.

Figure 2. Adult Birch Leafminer (X5)

Figure 3. Birch Leafminer Larva. Underside View (X5)

Control Strategies

Birch leafminers prefer sunny areas but will attack susceptible trees almost anywhere. Birches tolerate leafminers best when they are planted in shady, cool, moist areas. Since birch leafminer attacks may weaken the trees, making them more susceptible to borer attack, good fertility and horticultural care are needed. When chemical controls are needed, control of the first generation will generally eliminate any need for additional applications.
Option 1: Cultural Control - Pupation Barrier Since the larvae must find soil for pupation, place a black plastic or tightly woven fiber mulch under the tree drip line. Lightly mulch with organic material so that drying can occur rapidly.
Option 2: Cultural Control - Resistant Birches Unfortunately, the birches with the finest white bark seem to be more susceptible to the birch leafminer. The river birch (B. nigra) and Dahurian birch (B. davurica) have bark with curly flakes and seem to be resistant to bronze birch borers as well as the leafminers. Other birches resistant to leafminer attack are Schmidt birch (B. schmidtii), Monarch birch (B. maximowicziana), black birch (B. lenta) and yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis).
Option 3: Chemical Control - Insecticides for Adult Control Several insecticides have activity that kill adults. Although the first generation adults are active when the new leaves are about half expanded, emergence may take place over several days. In Ohio, birch trees are usually attacked by the first generation of leafminers during the first two weeks of May. Contact insecticides may need to be re-applied every 5 to 10 days depending on their residual activity. Systemic insecticides may not need re-application if their residual activity period is more than 14 days. Pesticides that act against the leafmining larvae are generally more effective. Contact and stomach insecticides registered include: bifenthrin (Talstar)(*), carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), diazinon, fenitrothion (Pestroy)(*), malathion, permethrin (Pounce)(*), phosmet (Imidan)(*) and lindane.
Option 4: Chemical Control - Systemic Insecticides for Larval Control Systemic insecticides, especially easily translocated materials, can be applied to the foliage, by soil injection or injected into the tree. Stem or trunk injection is not recommended on a regular basis because of the tissue damage caused by the hole drilling. Attempt to control the first generation of larvae when the mines or eggs are first apparent. Systemic insecticides registered for control are: acephate (Orthene), dimethoate (Cygon)(*), disulfoton (Di-syston)(*), oxydemeton-methyl (Metasystox-R)(soil injection only)(*).
* Restricted Use Pesticide
Option 5: Chemical Control - Timed Sprays Using Degree-Days (DD) or Plant Phenology Using a base of 50 degrees F, the first generation of larvae should be susceptible to control between 190-290 DD. This is the time that Vanhoutte spiraea and horsechestnut are beginning to bloom.

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This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registration, some of the recommendations given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author, The Ohio State University and the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.

The following is information regarding Burch Borer...

With this episode we covered various email questions sent in from viewers. The following is an article made available from Ohio State university Extension Service regarding Birch Leaf Miner, and Birch Borer infestations.

The article is being posted for the sole purpose of information to aid in the eradication of Birch Leaf Miner and borer infestations in local Birch trees in home landscapes.

Descriptions of insect life cycle, damage and control are shown as means of control and prevention from damage from Leaf Miner infestations in Birch trees.

Follow up and further information is available to you free of charge on our program email address at sctvgarden@comcast.net and links to other sites can be found on my web site at http://www.hortservices.net

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Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Entomology

1991 Kenny Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Bronze Birch Borer Management

HYG-2018-95

David J. Shetlar


The bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory, is a small slender beetle that is slightly less than 1/2-inch in length. Its larva is one of the most devastating pests of white-barked birches in Ohio. The larval stage feeds just under the bark of birch trees. When this larval feeding girdles a branch or tree, the result is sudden wilting and death.
This native North American insects occurs on birch from Newfoundland to British Columbia and south to West Virginia, Ohio, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon.

Plants Attacked

The larvae have been recovered from most birch species but European white birch (Betula pendula), water birch (B. occidentalis), paper or canoe birch (B. papyrifera), and yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis) seem to be the most preferred hosts.

Damage

 

Initial damage is usually discovered when the top part of a birch tree suddenly wilts and dies. This happens when a larva girdles one of the upper branches. Careful examination of branches and the trunk usually reveals raised ridges or bumps, commonly referred to as "gouting" of the branches. These are ridges formed when a larval tunnel is closed in by callous tissue of the tree.
Often, D-shaped holes are found in the bark and these may be stained with rust colored sap. These holes are emergence holes made by adult beetles.
Heavy attacks and continued reinfestation results in most of the branches dying from the top down. Eventually the trunk is girdled and the entire tree dies.

Description and Life Cycle

Adult bronze birch borers are rarely observed because of their secretive behavior and rapid flight ability. The adults are slender, dark olive-bronze in color with a bright green iridescence underneath the wing covers. Males are usually about 3/8-inch long, while females may reach 1/2-inch in length. Most adults have a short white colored dash on the sides of the wing covers.
The larva is atypical of most flat-headed borers in having the segment behind the head only slightly wider than the body. The slender, cream-colored larvae have two short spines (urogomphi) at the tip of the abdomen. Newly hatched larvae are about 1/16-inch long while mature larvae may be 3/4 to 1 1/4-inch long and 3/32-inch wide.
Adults generally emerge from mid-May to mid-June in southern Ohio. In northern Ohio, adults may emerge into late June. Emerging adults leave characteristic D-shaped holes in the bark. The adults feed on leaf margins for several days before eggs are laid. Mating and egg laying activity is usually located on the sunny side of trees. Mated females seek out crevices in the bark, especially around branch scars. Occasionally eggs are placed under loose flakes of outer bark or around wounded areas. The oval eggs are creamy white when new but turn yellowish with time. The hatching larvae burrow through the attached egg shell directly into the bark within 10 to 14 days. The larvae generally bore in the cambium area but occasionally move into sapwood. The larvae usually feed laterally around the branch and tunnel in a zig-zag manner. Most larvae mature by late fall and form elongate pupation cells just beneath the bark. Farther north, many larvae overwinter and take a second year before maturing. Pre-pupae rest over winter in the pupal cell in a doubled-up position. Pupation occurs in late April into May

Control Hints

As with most wood boring insects, the bronze birch borer is extremely difficult to control, especially if an infestation is established. This pest seems to prefer birches located in unsuitable habitats. Birches generally grow in shady, cool and moist wooded areas. Thus, when birches are planted as an accent plant in sunny, dry urban lawns, they are rapidly attacked.
Strategy 1: Provide Proper Habitat for Birch Growth - If a birch is deemed necessary for urban landscape planting, select shaded and semi-moist areas. Use the north and east sides of buildings. Proper fertilization and control of aphids and leafminers will help keep the birch vigorous and better able to withstand borers.
Strategy 2: Use Birches Less Susceptible to Borers - Though they do not have pure white bark, river birch (B. nigra) is quite resistant to attack and gray birch (B. populifolia) is moderately resistant. However, gray birch is very susceptible to leaf miners and river birch is attacked by leaf aphids. Probably the best species is the Monarch birch (B. maximowicziana) which has white bark on older trees and is only moderately susceptible to leafminers and aphids.
Strategy 3: Preventive or Protectant Insecticide Applications by Calendar Dates - Susceptible birches are rapidly attacked in sunny areas and generally require regular annual protectant insecticide applications. Protectant surface sprays are applied to the tree bark so that residual insecticide is present to kill larvae hatching from eggs. This must be done before eggs are laid and reapplications are needed if adults lay eggs over extended periods. A thorough drenching of the larger branches (1 1/2-inch diameter or larger) and trunk is needed to insure the formation of the insecticide barrier under loose bark and inside bark cavities - areas where eggs are usually attached. Systemic insecticides - sprayed, soil drenched, or injected - are applied to kill feeding adults and young larvae entering the cambium area. In Ohio, protectant sprays should be applied by early June and possibly again in early July. See Bulletin 504 for currently registered insecticides.
Strategy 4: Preventive Applications Timed by Degree-Days - An adult emergence model for bronze birch borers has been developed using a 10_C base and an April 1 start date. The model gives the following predictions:

% Emergence	Degree-Days @10 degrees C	30-year average date for Columbus, OH
10	233	May 27
30	264	May 30
50	287	June 2
70	312	June 5
90	353	June 9

Strategy 5: Systemic Insecticide Application to Control Active Borers - This technique may reduce damage but often considerable damage has already occurred. True phloem/xylem flowable systemics may be applied - sprayed, soil drenched, or injected - to kill actively feeding larvae. This is generally only effective from late June to mid-September. Spring and late fall applications are not effective because the larvae are usually not feeding and have entered their pupal chambers. See Bulletin 504 for currently registered insecticides.

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NOTE: Disclaimer - This publication may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registrations, some of the recommendations given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author and Ohio State University Extension assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.

This article available through the Ohio State University Extension Services.