In addition to some diseases, especially fungal diseases, some pests can also cause problems for cypresses. You will cause a lot of damage to a cypress if you don't do something about it in time. How to recognize a pest infestation and what you can do about it.
What pests attack cypress trees and how do you fight them?
Cypress trees can be attacked by leaf miners, bark beetles and mealybugs. To combat leaf miners, affected shoots should be cut off and treated with insecticides. Bark beetle infestation usually leads to the death of the cypress and requires the plant to be removed. Mealybugs can be combated with soapy water or special sprays.
What pests can occur on cypress trees?
- Leaf miners
- bark beetle
- mealybugs
A he althy plant can cope with a pest infestation quite well. Therefore, ensure that the cypress is properly cared for.
Fighting leaf miners
Of the over 100 different species of leaf miner, there are a few that specialize in cypress trees. The infestation is caused by the moth larvae and is manifested by dry shoot tips. If the infestation is more severe, feeding passages can also be seen in the shoots themselves.
Cut off all affected shoots. Dispose of them in household waste. Since the nocturnal larvae can hardly be seen with the naked eye, you should then spray the cypress with commercially available insecticides.
Identifying bark beetles
If there are brown, dried-out areas on the tips of the shoots, cut off one of the branches and see whether there are drill holes the size of a pinhead. In this case the cypress was attacked by bark beetles.
If a bark beetle is infested, the cypress can no longer be saved. Dig them up and discard them. Do not leave any plant residue lying around in the garden for an unnecessarily long time. This will prevent the pests from spreading further.
What to do against mealybugs on cypress trees?
You can recognize mealybugs by the sticky coating that appears on the needles and shoot tips. The lice are so big that you can see them if you look closely.
For small trees, it is worth trying to wash off the mealybugs with soapy water. Spraying with a hard jet of water is not recommended as the shoots of the cypress break too easily.
If the infestation is severe, only using a spray against mealybugs will help.
Tip
If the needles inside the cypress turn brown and there are no other signs of disease or pest infestation, this is a normal process. The shoots receive too little light, dry out and then fall off. Sometimes it helps to thin out the tree a little.
