Japanese maple plant + insect infestation - Ask Extension
Notes mite like infestation of our 4+ yr old potted Japanese maple tree. Also insects infested our home as we were bringing in tree during the hot su...
Knowledgebase
Japanese maple plant + insect infestation #876508
Asked July 09, 2024, 12:59 PM EDT
Notes mite like infestation of our 4+ yr old potted Japanese maple tree. Also insects infested our home as we were bringing in tree during the hot summer afternoons to avoid sun burning trees. Unable to identify insects. Meantime have stopped bringing tree indoors and also spraying insects with soap water. Tree is potted in fine pine mulch and peat moss only. Tree is otherwise healthy without leaf damage. Insects appear mainly on pot and in soil but can be found on tree. No flies or webs on tree.
Lapeer County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello
Do these insects fly? Do they jump? Or, do they just crawl? Can you count how many legs they have?
If they just crawl, and have two “tail pipe” like protrusions out the back, they are probably aphids. But, your pictures are out of focus so I can’t be sure.
Please compare what you have to pictures here, use a hand magnifying lens if needed to see your insects clearly.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/aphids#using-pesticides-344413
The article above has recommendations for control of aphids. The insects could be something else, so proper ID is important. However most can be controlled by using neem oil or insecticidal soap(not dish soap, which can burn foliage on plants).
Consider repotting this tree now. There could be many insect eggs in the potting material. Clean the pot, buy fresh new potting soil, which should be sterile so no insect eggs in it. (not garden soil or top soil, which is too heavy and may not be sterile) You can place a fresh layer of mulch on top 1-2 inches deep, but don’t let it pile up against the trunk. Be as gentle as possible with the roots of the tree.
When you repot, be sure you do not bury the trunk deeper than it is right now. For trees, deeper planting is not good for their roots.
If you can get some clearer pictures, and answer the above questions, please let me know.
Do these insects fly? Do they jump? Or, do they just crawl? Can you count how many legs they have?
If they just crawl, and have two “tail pipe” like protrusions out the back, they are probably aphids. But, your pictures are out of focus so I can’t be sure.
Please compare what you have to pictures here, use a hand magnifying lens if needed to see your insects clearly.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/aphids#using-pesticides-344413
The article above has recommendations for control of aphids. The insects could be something else, so proper ID is important. However most can be controlled by using neem oil or insecticidal soap(not dish soap, which can burn foliage on plants).
Consider repotting this tree now. There could be many insect eggs in the potting material. Clean the pot, buy fresh new potting soil, which should be sterile so no insect eggs in it. (not garden soil or top soil, which is too heavy and may not be sterile) You can place a fresh layer of mulch on top 1-2 inches deep, but don’t let it pile up against the trunk. Be as gentle as possible with the roots of the tree.
When you repot, be sure you do not bury the trunk deeper than it is right now. For trees, deeper planting is not good for their roots.
If you can get some clearer pictures, and answer the above questions, please let me know.
