Have this lilly pilly tree and all the new growth has kinda "bubbles", you
know like the leaf has hundreds and thousands in it! (sorry I have no other
way to describe it). There's also some ants tending it - going up and down
the stem to do something... are they causing the problem?

If I solve the ant problem (like with some vege oil or something around the
stem - is that a good idea?) Will that solve the problem the new leaves
have? Otherwise what should I do? I've seen other photos of new lilly
pilly leaves on the web and they don't have this problem.

Thanks!
cole.

cole wrote:

Have this lilly pilly tree and all the new growth has kinda "bubbles", you
know like the leaf has hundreds and thousands in it! (sorry I have no other
way to describe it). There's also some ants tending it - going up and down
the stem to do something... are they causing the problem?

Nope, probably tending whatever is. An aphid or something. Not really a
problem. The insect will probably attract small insectivous birds in
time.

On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 01:12:52 GMT, "cole" wrote:

Have this lilly pilly tree and all the new growth has kinda "bubbles", you
know like the leaf has hundreds and thousands in it! (sorry I have no other
way to describe it). There's also some ants tending it - going up and down
the stem to do something... are they causing the problem?

If I solve the ant problem (like with some vege oil or something around the
stem - is that a good idea?) Will that solve the problem the new leaves
have? Otherwise what should I do? I've seen other photos of new lilly
pilly leaves on the web and they don't have this problem.

Thanks!
cole.


Sounds like leaf scale or wooly aphids.

See
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/en...leinsects.html
for leaf scale.
See http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ian.old...phids_4367.jpg
for aphids.

The lumps are caused by Psyllids/Lerps - a very common problem with most
varieties of lilly pilly. See here for more info:
http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/psyllid/mainCols.html
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/200...den/weeds_and_
garden_pests/lillypilly_psyllids

I have a lilly pilly hedge that was completely covered with lumpy leaves,
and it looked pretty unnattractive. I trimmed the plants right back and
sprayed with Rogor - and the plants recovered very quickly and are looking
much better. There are still some lumpy leaves, but not all over the plants
anymore, and they seem more vigorous. If your tree doesn't have too many
affected leaves, I probably wouldn't bother treating it.



"cole" wrote in message
...
Have this lilly pilly tree and all the new growth has kinda "bubbles", you
know like the leaf has hundreds and thousands in it! (sorry I have no
other
way to describe it). There's also some ants tending it - going up and
down
the stem to do something... are they causing the problem?

If I solve the ant problem (like with some vege oil or something around
the
stem - is that a good idea?) Will that solve the problem the new leaves
have? Otherwise what should I do? I've seen other photos of new lilly
pilly leaves on the web and they don't have this problem.

Thanks!
cole.

"gl" writes:

The lumps are caused by Psyllids/Lerps - a very common problem with most
varieties of lilly pilly. See here for more info:
http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/psyllid/mainCols.html
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/200...den/weeds_and_
garden_pests/lillypilly_psyllids

I have a lilly pilly hedge that was completely covered with lumpy leaves,
and it looked pretty unnattractive. I trimmed the plants right back and
sprayed with Rogor - and the plants recovered very quickly and are looking
much better. There are still some lumpy leaves, but not all over the plants
anymore, and they seem more vigorous. If your tree doesn't have too many
affected leaves, I probably wouldn't bother treating it.


Here on the South East coast, the smaller Lilly Pillys (particulalry
Syzigium paniculatum) seem to have been particularly blighted this
year. I don't know whether it's due to the drought or what. The
lerps don't kill them, but they do look a bit unsightly for a bit.
Predators like birds and parasitic wasps will come in and eat them up
for you in time. I personally prefer nature to do my work for me.

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