Elm Leaf Beetle
The elm leaf beetle is named for its fondness of elm trees. Both the larvae and adults feed on the leaves, and can cause damage to the tree. Adult elm leaf beetles are around ΒΌ” long, and larvae can get to twice that size. They are a nuisance pest, since it isn’t common for them to actually kill a tree. But in large numbers they can cause severe defoliation. In addition, their droppings can cause staining of painted surfaces and car finishes. Because they look for a protected area to overwinter, elm leaf beetles can end up in your house. To control them on trees, there are a couple of options. Spraying the tree’s foliage is possible if conditions permit. Or if a tree has a history of getting infested, spraying around the base of the tree before the problem gets bad will help to control the beetle in it’s earlier state. Another option is tree injection.