Pest identification
What's eating my tilia tomentosa 'petiolaris'?
Lime aphid (Eucallipterus tiliae)
Signs: Dense colonies beneath leaves coat the entire canopy zone with honeydew; sticky drip and sooty mold on everything below are the primary complaint.
Control: Tolerate on large established trees; insecticidal soap works on young trees if applied thoroughly to leaf undersides; natural predators help from midsummer.
Lime nail gall mite (Eriophyes tiliae)
Signs: Distinctive elongated red or green nail galls on upper leaf surface; unsightly but purely cosmetic.
Control: No treatment required; dispose of heavily galled leaves in autumn to marginally reduce mite populations.
Winter moth caterpillars (Operophtera brumata)
Signs: Small green caterpillars feed inside rolled leaves in spring, causing shot-hole damage and leaf distortion.
Control: Grease bands on trunk in October; Bt spray at bud burst if damage was severe the previous year.
Keep tilia tomentosa 'petiolaris' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tilia tomentosa 'Petiolaris' pests — FAQ
What is eating my tilia tomentosa 'petiolaris'?
Tilia tomentosa 'Petiolaris' (weeping silver lime) shares the genus's aphid problem and is additionally notorious for killing bumblebees that forage its late-summer flowers during nectar dearth. Gall mites and caterpillars are secondary. Aphids and honeydew are the main aesthetic complaint for garden owners throughout summer.
How do I get rid of lime aphid (eucallipterus tiliae) on tilia tomentosa 'petiolaris'?
Dense colonies beneath leaves coat the entire canopy zone with honeydew; sticky drip and sooty mold on everything below are the primary complaint. Tolerate on large established trees; insecticidal soap works on young trees if applied thoroughly to leaf undersides; natural predators help from midsummer.
How do I get rid of lime nail gall mite (eriophyes tiliae) on tilia tomentosa 'petiolaris'?
Distinctive elongated red or green nail galls on upper leaf surface; unsightly but purely cosmetic. No treatment required; dispose of heavily galled leaves in autumn to marginally reduce mite populations.
How do I get rid of winter moth caterpillars (operophtera brumata) on tilia tomentosa 'petiolaris'?
Small green caterpillars feed inside rolled leaves in spring, causing shot-hole damage and leaf distortion. Grease bands on trunk in October; Bt spray at bud burst if damage was severe the previous year.