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Post by ottawagardener on May 23, 2010 18:29:34 GMT -5
Anyone know this adorable little cane borer that's depriving my 'Black Lace' Elderberry of flowers?  For those that are curious or have a similar problem. This is what it looked like - wilting, hollow, side branches.  |
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Post by ottawagardener on May 25, 2010 18:24:13 GMT -5
Any guesses?
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 25, 2010 21:46:41 GMT -5
It's a bug. A nasty bug... If I were you, I would squish it and watch the juices fly. Well, no, not really... If YOU were ME, you would squish it an.... well... you know the rest.
I shouldn't type when I'm tired huh?
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 25, 2010 23:46:07 GMT -5
Almost looks like mites... dryberry? redberry? Do any of them exist where you are?
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Post by ottawagardener on May 26, 2010 6:21:10 GMT -5
All those droopy branchlets have the offending bug borer down the centre.
He's kind of cute, no?
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 26, 2010 6:43:01 GMT -5
Cute? Telsing, you are truly wonderful. I tell you what, when I first glanced at the photo I thought I was looking at custard apple or maybe dragonfruit. I dunno, I'm getting ready to Bt all my gardens within the next couple days... I'm not thinking there are any "cute" bugs in the world at all.
Speaking of which... I need to know if Bt will be bad for the guineas?
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 26, 2010 10:16:15 GMT -5
Well, now that I'm looking at the picture more clearly, I see the borer. Last night, I could only see his black spots. My eyes are old...
So, cute, huh? I'm not sure I'd go that far, Telsing! 
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Post by mjc on May 26, 2010 11:40:46 GMT -5
A couple of things before the borer... Bt is a naturally occurring soil bacteria, that can induce death in many types of bugs by a toxin it produces...but there are many strains of it and the strain needed to fight off certain bugs may not be the indigenous strain in your area. As such, the only worry about it for anything other than bugs, is an allergy to the 'toxin'...which is pretty much a 'human' thing. The borer is probably an elderberry borer larvae (Desmocerus palliatus)...I can't find any decent pics of the larva, but the description of the damage it's doing fits and the adults look like  |
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 26, 2010 12:40:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the Bt info MJC! By the by, I remember a ways back someone mentioned applying a drop to the tips of corn ears as the silks presented themselves to stave off worms... Is my memory correct on this? Or was it apply to the top TASSLES when THEY presented? Cause I have some corn that is tassling... seems kinda short to me...
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Post by ottawagardener on May 26, 2010 14:26:35 GMT -5
That would sound about right. I've never seen the adult before... must be sneaky.
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Post by plantsnobin on May 26, 2010 21:56:44 GMT -5
As a butterfly lover, all this talk of Bt gives me a heavy heart. I have a nice hatching of pipevine swallowtail babies happily munching away on the Aristolochia clematitis right now.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 27, 2010 6:20:56 GMT -5
What are they hatching on Karen? We only spray our food crops. We actually have some plantings starting that are dedicated to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Guineas by default too I suppose.
Are there some specific plants you would recommend for butterflies Karen? I'm glad you brought this up because while we need to protect our food, we also need to insure wildlife has equal abundance.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 27, 2010 20:42:26 GMT -5
Cover your eyes Karen!!!
Anyone know what effect Bt will have against stink bugs, leaf leg bugs, and beetles in general?
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