What are these bugs?
By Caz13
United Kingdom
Does anyone know what these bugs are on the 'flowers' of my cornus kouza? They are on every one. Are they friend or foe?
- 10 Jun, 2008
Answers
No I haven,t got any on mine .
Amy
10 Jun, 2008
It may be the Dogwood Club-Gall Midge: The dogwood club-gall midge is a small fly, about 1/16-inch long. The female lays eggs in tiny terminal leaves of the dogwood. The larva hatches and enters the shoot. In response to the feeding and growth of the larva, a ½-1 inch long club- or spindle-shaped tubular swelling (gall) forms at the tip or a long the stem. The twig beyond the gall may die. In early fall, the larvae make exit holes in the galls. They drop to the ground where they survive the winter. An early symptom of a club-gall midge presence is a wilted, deformed leaf. A light infestation is not serious. A heavy infestation can stunt a tree.
For heavy infestations, spray with horticultural oil in the spring to kill many adults and eggs by smothering them. Oil should be applied before new growth begins and again after flowering. Be sure to thoroughly coat all of the branches. Avoid using insecticides unless the plant is very valuable and in serious danger from scale. The use of the horticultural oil is a safer alternative to insecticides for spraying upward into a large tree.
10 Jun, 2008
I don,t know but I,m going straight outside to look at mine ,
Lasy year mine was covered in flowers , this year there are hardly any
Amy
10 Jun, 2008