Since a few weeks I noticed my aspen tree was attracting ants. Ants are attracted by aphids. Usually, outside, I don't mind for a few aphids since nature can take care of them either by wind, rain, or natural predators. I saw it on a lilac tree: in the morning a branch was covered by aphids, but following day they were all gone! A feast for the birds! Last week end I sprayed the tree with some insecticide, it sure helped and removed both ants and aphids for a few days. But guess what, they are back! Aspen tree is about 10 ft high, and is attacked from top to bottom. And what I believed to be damages from aphids under the leaves, are fuzzy balls at almost every veins joints. After a little search, they would be Woolly leaves Galls. They are everywhere. At this point, I think the tree would need a proper intervention to be saved. What would you recommend? Stuff I have in hands and been using Affected leaf from my tree (took with a shitty cam) Not my pic but look exactly like that under a jeweller's lope Thanks in advance!
What a great site you linked their! Bookmarked done! Interesting path with twiggall flies, but so far really there is no swollen parts of protuberances either on leaves surfaces or branches. From my understanding this issue is unrelated to aphids or ants. I am still searching! Lots of trees around it like maple, oak and wild grape vine. Good news so far is it doesn't seems harmful.
"Most aphids excrete large quantities of honeydew, a sweet, sticky substance that attracts wasps, ants and bees and can serve as a medium on which black fungus can grow. If you read further into the Gall wasps. I believe the fluffy parts you are seeing may be from the wasp egg deposit sites." https://gillnursery.com/where-to-be...-get-left-out-i-love-this-stuff-what-a-story/ As for the aphids. I'd just use soapy water in a pressurized sprayer. I like cheap solutions.
I'd feed it well then leave it, if this issue were happening any other time of year I'd be concerned, but its the bug season, and so they have their turn as well, and ....the tree knows this, and applies its own procedures
Since global awareness on bees, I find so beautiful to discover all these unknown delicate species of solitary wasps and bees a little everywhere on my yard and fields. Thanks, Vee. You touched my hart and convinced me not to spray this tree even for aphids. I'll might set a few homemade traps for the ants but I'll leave the tree and it's own small ecosystem alone.
Your tree just has a little cough. The Aspens on my block kicked out this much white shit today! Cotton by Organic sinse posted Jul 21, 2023 at 7:32 PM Just kidding man. Aspen trees are pretty stout, Iwould just keep it healthy and let nature sort it out. Cheers Os
