Last year, one of our mature Acer palmatum Bloodgoods was attacked by the Ambrosia beetle (little sawdust slivers prevalent on lower trunk). We applied permethrin which is the recommended pesticide against it. The beetle doesn't actually eat the wood but brings in a symbiotic fungus that it feeds off of. The fungus, once inside obviously starts to rot and develop inside the tree. Anyhow, we applied permethrin to control the beetle, going so far as using syringes to inject it into the beetles holes as this was a 20ft bloodgood (7" cal) in an attempt to save it. It looks like this tree is now beetle free. And this spring, only one branch was affected. However, it does look like one section of the tree (about 3 inches of the surface of near the base x 6", the bark has peeled away and that part of the trunk is suffering (black from fungus infection). Anyhow, mushrooms (fungi) has started to grow on that section of the bark. Is there anything that I can apply on the tree to perhaps reduce the fungus/mushrooms growing or kill it from the tree ? It does look like outside of the area, the sap area of the tree is starting to grow back around and attempting to recover. Obviously this is one of my mature japanese maples and we're doing what we can to try and save it. The tree specialist indicated that there was very little chance of saving it once it was infected by the ambrosia beetle, but since we hae time and effort, we're doing what we can. He thought we were crazy to try injecting into the holes of the beetles with the insecticide but it did appear to work. Now, we just have to control the fungus that seems to be growing. Thanks for any assistance.
I think Bayer Systemic is a pesticide that works against certain pests. However, it doesn't contain any ingredients that is effective against ambrosia beetles. However, I think I've solved the beetle pest issue. It's the fungus that they've left behind that I'm trying to get some help on eradicating.
I'm not referring to their pesticide, I'm referring to their systemic fungicide. They make both. The fungicide works great... http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=100375-24182-701250&lpage=none
Hey K4, do you know the active ingredient? How's it do for pseudomonas, and other bark issues? TIA -E
I don't know much about the active ingredients, but I'm sure you could look them up somewhere. All I know is Diana at Topiary Gardens uses it - that's who turned me on to it...
