tree pest in my melaleuca

jack059 · 27th July 2011, 06:14 PM

Hi,

I have a paperbark/Melaleuca tree in the backyard and it has the following problem.

One section of the tree has died almost instantly, the leaves went brown and dropped off. This happened about 6 months ago.
I have sprayed with confidor 3 times at 1 month intervals and have not had any further dying.
Today I noticed a dead patch on the other side of the tree and snapped the branch off (only a small branch) and it was dead - just broke off. I noticed a worm in the centre of the branch still attached to the tree. I cut a small length off the tree with pruners and noticed the worm had not been further into the tree.
I have concluded that the offender must be laid/hatched in that section of the tree as there are no holes in the branch centre.
I have photographed it and hope someone can assist me as its the only tree I have.

Regards
Jack

Eric Frei · 27th July 2011, 07:40 PM

The brown material on the outside is called frass, it's a combination of sawdust and borer excrement.

The tree has borers.

Often they are a secondary pathogen indicating tree stress.

So back to basics for tree TLC.

jack059 · 27th July 2011, 08:11 PM

Thanks Eric

Is there anything I can do ?

Regards
Jack

Eric Frei · 27th July 2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack059

Thanks Eric

Is there anything I can do ?

Regards
Jack

So back to basics for tree TLC.

Garry Brockley · 28th July 2011, 06:58 AM

what he's saying is feed, mulch, root drench to kill off whats there now and if in doubt CALL ARBORIST for goodness sake we do this all the time.

27th July 2011, 06:14 PM	#1
jack059 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: brisbane australia Posts: 2	tree pest in my melaleuca Hi, I have a paperbark/Melaleuca tree in the backyard and it has the following problem. One section of the tree has died almost instantly, the leaves went brown and dropped off. This happened about 6 months ago. I have sprayed with confidor 3 times at 1 month intervals and have not had any further dying. Today I noticed a dead patch on the other side of the tree and snapped the branch off (only a small branch) and it was dead - just broke off. I noticed a worm in the centre of the branch still attached to the tree. I cut a small length off the tree with pruners and noticed the worm had not been further into the tree. I have concluded that the offender must be laid/hatched in that section of the tree as there are no holes in the branch centre. I have photographed it and hope someone can assist me as its the only tree I have. Regards Jack Attached Thumbnails

27th July 2011, 07:40 PM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,993	Re: tree pest in my melaleuca The brown material on the outside is called frass, it's a combination of sawdust and borer excrement. The tree has borers. Often they are a secondary pathogen indicating tree stress. So back to basics for tree TLC. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

27th July 2011, 08:11 PM	#3
jack059 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: brisbane australia Posts: 2	Re: tree pest in my melaleuca Thanks Eric Is there anything I can do ? Regards Jack

28th July 2011, 06:58 AM	#5
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: tree pest in my melaleuca what he's saying is feed, mulch, root drench to kill off whats there now and if in doubt CALL ARBORIST for goodness sake we do this all the time. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

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