The simple green leaves of the pear tree can be badly damaged. The tree owner must then immediately and thoroughly examine the visible changes in order to find the cause. Is the dreaded curl disease behind many curled leaves?
Why do the leaves of the pear tree curl?
The pear tree is not affected by curl disease, which is caused by fungi. Pear leaves curl when the tree is infested withpear leaf suckersorpear aphids. Carry out checks early on, strengthen the tree with plant strengtheners and introduce beneficial insects.
Does curl disease occur on pear trees?
The curl disease is a fruit tree disease caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. It occurs mainly on peach trees, nectarine trees and almond trees. It also occasionally attacks apricot trees. ThePear tree is not affected by the curl disease However, this fruit tree can also get curled leaves. These two pests can be responsible for this:
- Mealy pear aphid
- Pear leaf sucker
How do I recognize an infestation with the mealy pear aphid?
The mealy pear aphid (Dysaphis pyri) is active from the time the leaves emerge until around June, then switches to bedstraw to lay its eggs again on the pear tree in autumn. Both the damage and the pest can be clearly seen.
malicious image
- leavesare strongdeformed (curled)
- roll up in a spiral
- are covered with sticky honeydew secretions
- if applicable. covered with rust stains (promoted by rust fungi)
- Shoots appear yellowed and compressed
Pest
- Aphids are2-3 mm long and spherical
- they have no wings
- Body is covered with wax powder
- this makes them appear grey-blue
- the antennae are yellow
- the upright abdominal tubes are black
- they live in dense colonies
How do I detect a pear leaf sucker infestation?
An infestation with the pear leaf sucker shows similar damage to an infestation with the pear aphid:curled, curled leavesand honeydew excretions. However, thepestsare slightly larger than aphids at3-4 mm and are also winged. The eggs, which are approximately 0.3 mm in size, are first whitish and then yellow. From the end of April onwards, the approx. 2 mm long larvae hatch and sit densely packed on the undersides of the leaves and stems.
What can I do about curled leaves?
No effective remedy against pear leaf suckers is approved for the home garden. Visual checks for laid eggs and knocking checks help to detect an infestation at an early stage. These measures make sense as a preventive measure:
- Promotion ofNützlingen
- for example ladybugs and earwigs
- Use ofPlant strengthening agents
- Closing the wintering places with bark painting
A lice infestation should also be discovered as early as possible throughchecksand combated by spraying withnettle broth. If the leaves are already curled, a sharp pruning can help.
Tip
Watch out for ant trails leading to the pear tree
Where there are lice, there are usually also ants. Because lice are “milked” by ants. If you notice an ant trail leading towards the pear tree, you should take a close look at the tree. This way you can stop an infestation before it can cause major damage.
