There were several leaves on the tree showing signs of feeding activity and a couple leaves that had been eaten right down to the petiole. From its size, I imagine this larva will soon be pupating, so the tree shouldn’t be losing too many more leaves.
Since it already had my attention, I decided to check the tree over to see how it was doing. There was a lot of damage due to egg laying by the 2008 brood of periodical cicadas. There is a good likelihood that many of these branches will break as the tree ages.
Something used silk to hold these leaves together and then ate the lower surface of the attached leaf from the safety of a leaf sandwich. There were several of these areas on the tree, but I didn’t find any sign of the culprit.
This small oak had an enlarged base typical of most small trees on the barrens. The top growth on these trees often dies back and a new shoot emerges from the base. Since the base has been continually growing from the time the seed sprouted, it becomes disproportionately larger each time the old top growth dies and a new one begins.
Hi Steve...thats quite the muncher and if your can hear him eating then your to close.. or I should say that would apply to me anyway!! : }
ReplyDeleteTent caterpillars are a pest here right now and they can do a number on a tree in no time to!
Had rain but not even enough to wet the ground for some poor withering plants!!
Hi, grammie g. That caterpillar was so loud, I wouldn't have been surprised to turn and find someone eating an apple beside me.
ReplyDeleteOur tent caterpillars have finished for the year, but you can still find some old dirty tents hanging in the trees.
Our rain stopped in mid July and we haven't had but a sprinkle since.