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Decatur, GA

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Boozy Bees? Drunk Trunks?

If you smell beer and observe an oozy froth dripping down the trunk of a landscape tree, you might approach for a closer look. There's a party going on! Bees, butterflies and beetles are clustered around the froth and wobbling around it. The condition is called slime flux and it's common on stressed trees in mid-summer.

I have more details, and what you can do about this condition, at http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/oak...

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June beetles at the party!
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slime flux
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slime flux

15 Comments

Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Walter, who else but you could turn a discussion of slime flux into an engaging read?

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 1
Miriam I New York, NY

LOL - I agree!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
SheilaG, Plum Doodles Acworth, GA

Always learning something new on here!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Sharron W Memphis, TN

I always thought that this was a result of Borers....But I can see distinct cracks in the tree so obviously it's not in this case...if the tree had gotten more water would it have prevented this? or is it a result of Fungus? Thanks for sharing this!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Walter Reeves Decatur, GA

@Sharron: It's usually the result of stress, like drought, combined with a wound the tree can't immediately heal

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

So Water regularly MIGHT have helped reduce the stress on the tree...unless it was hit by Lightning or something that it just couldn't heal from... We have a neighbor across the street that keeps hoping a tree in the yard next to her will die....it's a "gumball" tree (I don't know the real name, just that I don't want one...LOL) it fills her gutters with the aforementioned Gumballs and we have to go over and clean out the gutters a couple of times a year for her...the tree has been hit by ...»
lightning no less than three times...and it just keeps living...LOL

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Miriam I New York, NY

So, trees hit the bottle when they're stressed. :)

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 2
Sharron W Memphis, TN

@Miriam HaHaHaHa..... That's so funny, wish my brain thought of that...

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Miriam I New York, NY

LOL, I couldn't resist.

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Gee I guess the trees react just like some people when the stress gets to be too much huh?? Who knew!!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

OH!!! I just took a closer look @the first picture. Walter, those are what we all used to call June Bugs!! I haven't seen one of those in years. I was beginning to think they were extinct by now or something. I remember as kids we used to tie a piece of long thread around one of their back legs and hold it while they flew around!! Lotsa fun!!!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Sara C Jacksonville, FL

heck, I wouldn't wash it off - let the bugs have their fun!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Dee Farmingdale, NY

Can't bee-lieve this is a topic today. I just this morning, after watering, caught an overwhelming smell of beer...not alcohol, but beer aroma coming from my huge pine tree!! Walked away, saying, nah, can't be...lol

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 2
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

@Dee - FUNNY!! How ironic is that though. So, at least you know you're not entirely crazy!!

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Lee Grass Valley, CA

The comment on June Bugs brings back great memories

on Feb 11, 2013 · Like 1