How Do I Get Rid Of The Insects That Attack My Plum Tree?

Are the insect pests making your plum tree leaves curled, distorted, and yellow?

Are the leaves yellow and deformed, the plant looks stunted, fine webbing may be present?

Are there any holes in the trunk or the branches, sawdust may be present around the holes?

Did the insects skeletonized the leaves?

Have the flowers been eaten also?

Do the ends of the twigs die and fall off?

Are the leaves covered with small bumps?

Are there crescent-shaped scars on fruits?

Are there holes in flowers, leaves are rolled up?

Are the insects present in the form of white, cottony clusters??

Are the insects making your plum look weakened with stunted growth and fewer blooms and fruits?

Are there webbed nests in tree branches full of caterpillars?

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used if the infestation is severe. Introducing lady beetles can be an effective natural form of control.

Spider mites are known to cause problems for plums. Hose off plants when symptoms first appear. A strong stream knocks mites off plants and may give control. Introduce predatory mites. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

Holes are made by borers. Cut and burn any dying stems below the borer holes. In June, crush any visible eggs. If the tunnels are fairly straight, kill the borer larva by probing the tunnel with a flexible wire. Injecting parasitic nematodes into the holes can give some control.

Skeletonized leaves and eaten flowers are caused by Japanese beetles. Handpick adult beetles into a can of soapy water but make sure to wear gloves as Japanese beetles are blister beetles. Apply parasitic nematodes to the soil to limit beetle grub populations. Use pyrethrin powder or neem oil as a last resort.

If only the leaves have been skeletonized, culprits are most likely cankerworms. Place a band of sticky adhesive on the tree trunk. The sticky substance captures the wingless female adults as they crawl up the tree trunk and before they have the chance to lay eggs. However, the properly timed use of BTK is more effective if the application coincides with the presence of young larvae that are just beginning to feed on the host tree leaves.

Cicadas are most likely the pest that has attacked your plum tree. Knock the insects off of small trees with blasts of water from a garden hose. Wrap the branches loosely with cheesecloth or other mesh cloth. This will keep females from being able to drill into the branches to lay their eggs. Apply the cloth or screening as soon as cicadas emerge and leave it on for about a month, or until the cicadas are gone. Pesticide application is rarely practical.

Leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Crescent-shaped scars on fruits are caused by beetles - Plum curculios. You can control their numbers by gently shaking the tree and the branches or hitting the branches with a padded mallet and when the bugs fall, collect and destroy them. If you do this twice a day, you won't have trouble with them.

Leafrollers are attacking your plum tree. If the infestation isn't severe, handpick the rolled leaves with caterpillars. Spray more heavily infested trees with light horticultural oil according to the directions of the label to smother the insects and any eggs.

White, cottony clusters on leaves are mealybugs. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Sawflies are attacking your plum tree. Remove them by handpicking or with blasts of water. For heavy infestations, use insecticidal soap spray.

Tent caterpillars can be controlled by manually destroying their nests or egg cases, spraying leaves with BTK at the first sign of damage, or applying pyrethrin spray as a last resort.

If much foliage has been eaten starting from the top of the tree down the culprits are caterpillars of Tussock moth. Control their numbers by scraping off and destroying patches of their eggs when you see them. With serious infestations, you'll have to use insecticides.