Asked on Aug 25, 2017
What is wrong with my elm tree?
by
Anita
+26
In the summer of 2016 in PA cicadas reappeared in swarms after 17 years. I hated them. I barely went outside the entire month of June. Everytime I ran a week wacker they were all over me, and they found a place to hibernate in my car. It was unnerving. Suddenly this summer my elm tree in the back yard has this white fleecy snow looking stuff all over it and undernea th was a reddish gel like substance. Eventually it disappeared but I fear my tree has weakened from the cicadas and is doomed. Does anyone have any idea what this is?
Hi Missa, You have Woolly Aphids! Here's a link to help: https://dengarden.com/gardening/Woolly-Aphids-Whats-that-Fluffy-White-Stuff-on-my-Tree
Good luck!
Looks like either a fungus or possible wooly aphids or a adelgidae. I would scrape some of that into a ziplock baggie and take it to a nursery.
I would get it treated ASAP as Elms are prone to many diseases that kill the tree and infest all the others around it.
I've never seen this from cicadas.
Wooly Aphids. Here is some info https://dengarden.com/gardening/Woolly-Aphids-Whats-that-Fluffy-White-Stuff-on-my-Tree
wooly adelphi you need to spray it with something that will kill aphids
It could be the wooly aphids, or possibly tree worms. Shey come in and make webs, then populate the webs with eggs to hatch. I don't think the Cicadas had anything to do with it.
Aphids actually do help a lot of times, as they kill other insects.
Here is some information on Wooly Aphids:
https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/woolly-aphids-on-trees-and-shrubs/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/woolly-aphid-control.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriosomatinae
Contact your county agriculture extension service. They have experts available for free! This is a service provided in every state in the union.
I absolutely hate Aphids I hope you can kill them cause they hard to get rid of.
Sorry Russell, but I have never heard of any aphid being good for anything.
Yet, I know, somehow flies, mosquitos and all the other buggers are here for some purpose. I have a spider in my hanging plant by my side door that I greet when I pour the dirty dog water in the plant cuz he helps with the flies near the trash can.
But not a spidey in my bedroom... 🕷😲
Thank you everyone. Yes, I believe it is a Woolly Aphid. Wish I had gotton on this site sooner as now they are gone and I fear inside the tree bark. The tree, especially the bottom leaves have browned. I thought the cicadas might have weakened the tree causing it to be more prone to something like this. I hope my tree survives. If it does I will try to get rid of this awful stuff.
There is a product from Bayer Advanced that works systemically for 12 months on trees and shrubs protecting them from insect damage. This product got rid of aphids on my magnolias and various bushes in my yard. It also protected my Rose of Sharon shrubs from Japanese beetles. I highly recommend it.
we use beetle traps
Disgusting! When I was a kid my dad had to destroy all of our trees because of Dutch elm disease. I lost all of my trees & my shade :(. I woul say you have aphids & t
it needs to be treated immediately. You can use Safer soap for non toxic removal.
Every picture resembling yours says Wooly aphids - they are interesting - the fuzz is actually wax which is a protectant for the bugs - anyway....they have TO GO!
If desired, you can spot treat where the aphids are most abundant using insecticidal soap or neem oil. You can also prune out and destroy infested branches when feasible. When chemical control is deemed necessary, woolly aphid insecticide such as acephate (Orthene) can be used to control these pests.Apr 1, 2015
Any area that you may need to cut away you'll have to sterilize your blades after EACH cut. Use alcohol to wipe down your blades and make sure to securely bag the debris so as to not infect other foliage.
I would recommend contacting you local county extension
Yes use Bayer Advance for trees and shrubs to prevent this but you need to get a bottle sprayer that goes on the end of your water hose and set it really strong so they don't move to something else. Spray it with Malathion . spray it on a day as soon as possible when the wind is not blowing .good luck save that tree.:-)
Suggestion.....get a "root feeder".......they have inseciicide tablets that you shoot into the roots and that should get them from inside and outside......also have fertilizer tablets that you can use to invigorate the tree......seen professional use this technique......give it a try!!
Contact the DNR in your state and they can tell you exactly what it is and if there is a cure. I did that with my elm tree and it is fine.
They look like Wooly Aphids and the best solution is pretty darn cheap. Power blast them out with water from a hose. Once knocked out of the tree they can't get back up. Avoid chemicals! Overall they do more harm than good. Good luck!