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Help with Dwarf River Birch Pest / Disease Identification and Solution #879336

Asked July 29, 2024, 8:00 PM EDT

Hello, I have a dwarf river birch (Little King) I planted in early 2023, that has recently been overwhelmed by small black and white dots on the underside of the leaves and black sooty splotches on the tops of leaves. Many of the inner leaves are turning yellow and falling off. Some leaves have what appear to be small bumps or galls. I am having a hard time telling if this is a fungal or pest issue, or a combination of both. Thank you for your help in identifying the issue and sharing proposed solutions!

Hamilton County Ohio

Expert Response

First, thank you for sending such clear pictures. They were key to making an identification.

The small spots on the underside of the leaves are mulberry whitefly (Tetraleurodes mori) pupae. I've never seen such a heavy infestation. Despite its common name, this whitefly can be found on a wide range of trees and shrubs. It's also a prolific producer of honeydew that gets colonized by black sooty molds.

Although your tree is suffering an unusual number of whiteflies, it doesn't mean the infestation will threaten the overall health of the tree. In fact, mulberry whitefly is mostly considered a nuisance pest.

Here's a fact sheet that talks more about this insect: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/mulberry-whitefly#:~:text=Adult%20mulberry%20whiteflies%20are%20pale,which%20sooty%20molds%20often%20grow)


An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 30, 2024, 2:43 PM EDT

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