Poinciana borers - help!!

bluebee · 24th February 2010, 05:48 PM

We have a beautiful healthy looking poinciana tree. This morning there was a inch thick branch on the ground which we thought blew off in the wind last night, but in closer inspection it has been chewed off by a borer!!!

I have read that you can locate the holes and put wire in the squash them but that would be impossible due to the height of the branches. I am worried how many other branches are just about to drop... and I should add that borers have chewed off three branches of a 12 metre long Lilly Pilly hedge over the past 3 months which is right beside the poinciana. I am somewhat concerned about the hedge, but I am extremely concerned about the poinciana tree!!!....what can we do to stop them destroying our poinciana tree??? Is there any way to treat the tree and the hedge to kill the borers???

Much appreciated!

Eric Frei · 24th February 2010, 07:24 PM

Pictures please, especially of the fallen branch.

In my experience borers in poincianas are generally in the deadwood.

Borers are the larvae stage of a huge variety of bugs, flys, beetles, moths etc .... there might be an attraction that's bringing them in. I once found that the trees closet to the street lights were most affected etc.

bluebee · 24th February 2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Pictures please, especially of the fallen branch.

In my experience borers in poincianas are generally in the deadwood.

Borers are the larvae stage of a huge variety of bugs, flys, beetles, moths etc .... there might be an attraction that's bringing them in. I once found that the trees closet to the street lights were most affected etc.

Ok, will post pics tomorrow. Its interesting about an attraction, ours in in the backyard, so I don't think it would get much streetlight, but maybe something else....

Yes, the branches that fell are deadwood, does this mean the borers could happily chew on the deadwood and not effect the tree? Or is that just wishful thinking....

Eric Frei · 24th February 2010, 09:11 PM

Normal event.

Borers are a secondary pathogen simply part of the natural cycle of decomposition.

bluebee · 25th February 2010, 04:04 PM

Thanks for your help, here's some photos of the poinciana tree and the branch, and the hedge is the one along the fence. I hope they are useful pics.

Thanks

Eric Frei · 25th February 2010, 05:14 PM

Yep, normal.

Usually the inner branches can get shaded out and die, self shed.

bluebee · 25th February 2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Yep, normal.

Usually the inner branches can get shaded out and die, self shed.

Phew, thanks Ekka. That's a relief as we love this tree. The hedge is loosing a few live branches, should we just accept that as normal too? I was wondering if it could get out of control.

Eric Frei · 25th February 2010, 05:53 PM

Prevention is better than cure.

It's hard to kill borers period. But kill the things that lay the eggs. Maybe a mixture of neem oil and pyrethium sprayed on a frequent basis.

Prune out dead, dying, diseased pronto.

Make correct cuts, keep cuts small in dia if you can. Keep tools sharp and clean, forget about wound paints.

Australian Standards of Pruning AS4373 2006 draft

Pruning cuts - collar, collarless and co-dominant

bluebee · 27th February 2010, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Prevention is better than cure.

It's hard to kill borers period. But kill the things that lay the eggs. Maybe a mixture of neem oil and pyrethium sprayed on a frequent basis.

Prune out dead, dying, diseased pronto.

Make correct cuts, keep cuts small in dia if you can. Keep tools sharp and clean, forget about wound paints.

Great. Thanks for the info and links, much appreciated!

24th February 2010, 05:48 PM	#1
bluebee Sappling Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern NSW Posts: 5	Poinciana borers - help!! We have a beautiful healthy looking poinciana tree. This morning there was a inch thick branch on the ground which we thought blew off in the wind last night, but in closer inspection it has been chewed off by a borer!!! I have read that you can locate the holes and put wire in the squash them but that would be impossible due to the height of the branches. I am worried how many other branches are just about to drop... and I should add that borers have chewed off three branches of a 12 metre long Lilly Pilly hedge over the past 3 months which is right beside the poinciana. I am somewhat concerned about the hedge, but I am extremely concerned about the poinciana tree!!!....what can we do to stop them destroying our poinciana tree??? Is there any way to treat the tree and the hedge to kill the borers??? Much appreciated!

24th February 2010, 07:24 PM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Poinciana borers - help!! Pictures please, especially of the fallen branch. In my experience borers in poincianas are generally in the deadwood. Borers are the larvae stage of a huge variety of bugs, flys, beetles, moths etc .... there might be an attraction that's bringing them in. I once found that the trees closet to the street lights were most affected etc. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

24th February 2010, 09:11 PM	#4
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Poinciana borers - help!! Normal event. Borers are a secondary pathogen simply part of the natural cycle of decomposition. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

25th February 2010, 04:04 PM	#5
bluebee Sappling Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern NSW Posts: 5	Re: Poinciana borers - help!! Thanks for your help, here's some photos of the poinciana tree and the branch, and the hedge is the one along the fence. I hope they are useful pics. Thanks Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Jeff Darby; 25th February 2010 at 05:14 PM. Reason: embed pictures

25th February 2010, 05:14 PM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Poinciana borers - help!! Yep, normal. Usually the inner branches can get shaded out and die, self shed. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

25th February 2010, 05:53 PM	#8
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Poinciana borers - help!! Prevention is better than cure. It's hard to kill borers period. But kill the things that lay the eggs. Maybe a mixture of neem oil and pyrethium sprayed on a frequent basis. Prune out dead, dying, diseased pronto. Make correct cuts, keep cuts small in dia if you can. Keep tools sharp and clean, forget about wound paints. Australian Standards of Pruning AS4373 2006 draft Pruning cuts - collar, collarless and co-dominant __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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