eXtension

Foliar Damage on Varigated Red Twig Dogwoods

Asked May 21, 2019, 5:23 PM EDT

Greetings, There are several properties in the montgomery county area that my company cares for where the red twig dogwoods are exhibiting a shot-hole type of foliar damage. Could this be fungal related?

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Montgomery County Maryland

1 Response

This looks like the early stages of sawfly (larva) feeding. They are not uncommon and aren't usually of great concern (other than cosmetically) on this shrub.
If you have to treat, spinosad should work.
(Though it looks like a caterpillar it's not so Bt would not work).

A similar species here: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/sawflies-flowers


Christine