Fun with a tree

[jessie_k_pythons]

I was taking some photos of the leaves of my tree to show to a friend of mine,(my tree is being over run with some kind of bug, they are the little white pods on the back of the leaves) wen my camara was getting all funky on me. not wanting to zoom right and not wanting to focus. I got one good photos of the leaves but the 2nd photo shows why it wouldnt focus on the leaves. note in the first photo, see the lime green blob on the trunk of the tree?




Then something else cought my eye about a foot higher up the tree.


thought I would share this you all.

[mr~python]

very cool little anole. thats a beautiful moth too.

[jessie_k_pythons]

I didnt see him till I uploaded the photos on to the computer. The moth on the other hand I did see and it was a little bit bigger than my hand. but I have small hands anyway.

[recycling goddess]

those little white 'blobs' are just spit bugs... nothing to worry about. they won't hurt your tree if it's big and healthy... yours definitely looks big and healthy

aleesha

[jessie_k_pythons]

I was told they were Mealy Bugs. the white pod is made of silk and the bug it's self is white and fuzzy looking. My tree on the other hand is not doing well. the leaves are falling off and my tree looks as if it is Fall not Summer.

[recycling goddess]

our tree is covered but it's not harming it at all... here's a natural remedy for ya:


For soft-bodied bugs, such as aphids & mealie bugs:


Straight 70% or 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol - touch insects with a soaked cotton swab, or for larger infestations, spray the entire affected plant, being sure to thoroughly wet all surfaces. Repeat every 3 days for about 2 weeks. (I have never experienced any problems with buds, flowers, or any part of the plant when using an alcohol spray.)


Garlic/pepper spray - liquefy 2 bulbs of garlic and 2 hot peppers in a blender 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Strain to remove the solids and add enough water to the garlic/pepper juice to make 1 gallon of concentrate. Use 1/4 cup of concentrate per gallon of spray. To make garlic tea, simply omit the pepper and add another bulb of garlic. Add two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses for more control.

[jessie_k_pythons]

Thanks for the tip. the tree is at least 20 feet tall, so I would have to make about 30 gal. of the stuff. So far though ..(crosses fingers) the bugs have not attacked my flower bed or garden. only that one tree. I will try that remedy and or that Garlic/pepper spray. It couldnt hurt to try.

[recycling goddess]

if the tree is that old and big... most likely the infestation isn't really harming the tree, just some leaves.

(of course that's just from my experience)

[jessie_k_pythons]

I think you might be right. Time will only tell though.