It would be nice to finally find a tree species that has never experienced a pest close to its leaves. However, the plane tree is eliminated as a candidate! Below we will describe more than four types of pests that cause a lot of damage to the poor tree.
What pests attack plane trees?
Common pests on plane trees include gall mites, leaf miners, plane tree web bugs and vine mealybugs. They can cause leaf curling, bronzed leaves, yellowish-brown spots, and sticky honey films. Plant protection products or the establishment of beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybirds and parasitic wasps are suitable for combating them.
The four evildoers
A well-cared-for plane tree is robust, but the occurrence of the following pest species cannot be reliably avoided:
- Gall mites
- Leaf miners
- Plane tree web bugs
- Vine mealybugs
Gall mites
Curled leaves that later turn brown and dry out are the destructive work of gall mites. The pests themselves are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye, even up close. Immediately dispose of all diseased leaves in the residual waste bin. You can also get advice about suitable plant protection products from the garden center.
Leaf miners
The caterpillars of the pest leave space mines about 2-3 cm long on the undersides of the leaves. They are caused by the caterpillars eating their way through the inside of the leaf. We perceive these mines as yellowish-brown spots. Small, rather inconspicuous speckles can be seen on the top of the leaf. You should remove and dispose of affected plant parts as soon as possible.
Note:Infestation with leaf miners occasionally occurs at the same time as the fungal disease leaf brown. The similarity of symptoms can lead to a hasty, incorrect diagnosis. If you hold a leaf up to the light, you will see the mines clearly.
Plane tree web bugs
Plane tree web bugs are found in warmer regions of the country and preferentially on plane trees in inner cities. They usually occur in moderation and can only be controlled with a pesticide. This makes it all the more important that an infestation is detected early. These are the signs:
- numerous bright spots close to leaf veins
- bronze-colored leaves at a later date
- black larvae
Vine mealybugs
Vine mealybugs multiply rapidly and can cause a lot of damage to the plane tree. They suck out their plant sap, leaving behind a sticky honey film. Fortunately, the comparatively large lice can be easily discovered upon closer inspection of the plane tree:
- Lice are several millimeters long
- they have a white coating
- they are everywhere on the plane tree
With the targeted settlement of beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybirds and parasitic wasps, we have a natural, tried-and-tested means of repelling this pest.
