The Prunus domestica is one of a hardy species. With proper care and optimal location, it will delight for many years. Fruits ripen from July. Find out in this article which pests feel comfortable on the plum tree.

Mealy plum aphid

The Hyalopterus pruni is difficult to recognize. It often only becomes apparent at an advanced stage. Weakened and diseased plum trees must be treated immediately.

Effects of this pest are manifested in several ways. On the one hand, the plum aphid can encourage infestation with other pests. It also transmits viral diseases.

Characteristics:

  • Coloration: blue-grey to pink with white dust
  • Size: 2 to 3 millimeters
  • Occurrence in colonies
  • from June

Identifying features:

In the advanced stage, plum lice can be recognized by severe deformation and discoloration of the leaves.

Combat:

The destruction should take place in autumn at the latest. Commercially available agents based on potash soap are suitable.

Plum leaf sac gall mite

Bag-shaped galls about two millimeters in size form on the leaves of the plum tree. These are deposited there by pouch galls.

Identifying features:

  • Leaf edges and tips provided with galls: white, yellowish, pink
  • Galls above with slit openings
  • mites in galls

During bud swell, pouch gall mites deposit their galls on leaves. From there, the mites infest the flower buds and suck them dry.

Combat:

Measures to destroy the pests are effective at this early stage. There is no suitable pesticide for small gardens. For this reason, affected leaves, branches and fruit buds should be removed. Adult females of the bag gall mite like to overwinter under the bark of trees. Remove loose pieces of bark early.

Notice:

Regular checks are considered an effective preventive method. A grooming cut also protects.

plum sawfly

The females of this species produce about 70 eggs per year. They place these directly in the calyxes in spring. This means that the offspring are well supplied with food. Small larvae destroy between four and six fruit calyxes. Then they emerge on the ground.

Identifying features:

  • Unripe fruits fall from the tree
  • clear signs of feeding and holes on plums

Combat:

In principle, no measures are necessary in the case of a light infestation. It is possible to hang white glue boards directly in the plum tree during the flowering period.

More pests

  • plum moth
  • web moth

Prevent instead of fight

Pests and diseases leave clear traces on green shoots, fruits and leaves. It is worth checking for infestation at regular intervals. Pay attention to the following abnormalities:

  • food marks
  • discoloration
  • deformations
  • nets
  • eggs

tips and tricks

Never dispose of removed leaf, fruit and plant parts in the compost. In this way there is a risk of re-infestation in the following year.

FT

Category:

Trees