What kind of bugs are these attacking my tree...pic

[2QUIK6]

I had these bugs suddenly attack one of my trees, its the only kind of tree like it in my yard, not sure what kind of tree it is. Been here 8 years and they came last year for the first time and just about ate all the leaves off the biggest tree in my yard..and now they're back this year. I've been spraying about weekly and so far I'm not finding very many live ones...

But I'm wondering what they are, they are about twice the size of a lady bug and are tan and black.
Do they come from the ground or under the bark of the tree..they not seem to fly very well if at all.

 

[bishir]

Possibly a type of harmless ground beetle that eats other insects, but can you tell me what type of tree it was just in case?

 

[2QUIK6]

Originally posted by bishir
Possibly a type of harmless ground beetle that eats other insects, but can you tell me what type of tree it was just in case?

I really have no idea what type of tree it is, its a huge tree by the water and its the only one like it in my yard with 60+ other trees. My neighbor has a tree just like it and the bugs are on his too, and these bugs only like this one type of tree by eating the leaves...they are leaves a little smaller than Oak leaves. Its a unique type of tree I have not seen anywhere else around the neighborhood or lake...got to be at least 100 years old.
Last year when they invaded, I got out the 24ft ladder..which won't even get me to the first limb!! and went up I high as I could with a nozzle sprayer and sprayed all the branches I could hit with insecticide...it rained these dead bugs for a day or 2 there were 1000's covering the patio underneath.
This year I've been spraying the truck every week or so with some very potent stuff, DemonWP, and its killing them before they get up the truck..so far none on the leaves that I've found...but piles of dead bugs around the trunk.

 

[bishir]

Seems like you may have a species of Bark Beetle: http://www.treedoc.com/PineBeetle.html Doesn't sound good for your tree once they get established. Fortunally, you've been on top of them and might have kept them from getting established, but if they ate all your leaves last year that's not a good sign. I teach science and we've tracked some beetle here at school and once a tree is invested it has to be cut down usually. Pull off some bark and see if there are any tunnels under it like they've been engraved. If the tree is an Elm its most likey they could have spread a disease known as Dutch Elm disease which can infect others in your area.

The way you describe the high limbs sounds like it's an elm... http://www.elmpost.org/

 

[PEACHS]

I would find out what the natural preditor of the beetles is. Then i would counter the beetles with their preditor.

 

[2QUIK6]

It definitely not an Elm. I do have several elms, they have alot smaller leaves than this tree. I don't see any evidence that they are coming from under the bark, no bore holes that I can find...they just eat the leaves.
Black birds appear to be their predetor. When I sprayed last year and they all began falling out of the limbs, black birds from everywhere started trying to eat the dead bugs, I had to continually sweep them up so the birds would not get poisoned.

 

[bishir]

I did some more searching for you and I'm pretty sure what you have is a bark beatle of some kind but not sure what type exactly. There are over 300 species of bark beetles, none that I know of are good for the tree..

I g uess you're only solution is to get a few hundered black birds to equal out the bug problem. Then after that target shooting!

 

[2QUIK6]

Thanks for your help. I may bag up a few and take them down to the nature center a few miles away and see what they think they are if I ever have time on a Saturday.

 

[klrv6]

USE FIRE

Originally posted by PEACHS
I would find out what the natural preditor of the beetles is. Then i would counter the beetles with their preditor.

FIRE!!
OH wait he want to keep the tree.

Pay some of the kids around your house two dollars each if they will knock off and crush every one of them.

 

[blackbird]

WTB??

send your pics to whatsthatbug.com

 

[UNGN]

you need to call the Dirt Doctor Sunday morning on WBAP 820. He could probably tell you everything you ever wanted to know about them, since he wrote the Texas Bug Book

 

[HellOnWheels]

Originally posted by 2QUIK6
I had these bugs suddenly attack one of my trees, its the only kind of tree like it in my yard, not sure what kind of tree it is. Been here 8 years and they came last year for the first time and just about ate all the leaves off the biggest tree in my yard..and now they're back this year. I've been spraying about weekly and so far I'm not finding very many live ones...

But I'm wondering what they are, they are about twice the size of a lady bug and are tan and black.
Do they come from the ground or under the bark of the tree..they not seem to fly very well if at all.

Rob,

Check with your local county extension agent and ask for help in determining what the bugs are, and in most cases will furnish the pesticides.

The extension agent office is typically funded by the Fed gov.


HOW

 

[Pronto]

How about a local nursery? If you bring a leaf and a bug they might be able to identify both for you. I have done that with some of my plants before.

 

[2QUIK6]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll definitely bag some up and the tree leaves and see what the local nursery can tell me and/or the nature center which identifies alot of bugs, spiders, and wild things that people find around the lake here.