There are normally two generations of this insect in Kansas with this being the second generation. All species of elms are attacked, but Siberian elms (often referred to as Chinese elms) are preferred. Elm leaf beetles are serious nuisance pests of elms. Both adults and larvae feed on the elm leaves. Adult beetles are green and yellow striped and about 1/3 inch long. Young larvae are black and hairy but become yellow with two longitudinal dark stripes as they mature. The larvae cause most of the injury by window feeding on foliage, resulting in a skeletonized appearance.
Heavily infested leaves turn brown as if scorched by fire and often will drop prematurely. After several weeks of feeding, the larva crawl down the trunk or fall to the ground where they pupate. Elm leaf beetles overwinter as adults.
Feeding this late in the season will not cause significant damage to an otherwise healthy tree. Therefore, spraying is not recommended unless further damage cannot be tolerated. Active larvae can be controlled with a number of insecticides. However, check to make sure that larvae are still active before spraying. In many cases, the larvae have dropped from the trees and are pupating. Spraying is ineffective once pupation starts. Effective sprays for larvae (and adults) include acephate (Acephate, Orthene), spinosad (Natural Guard Spinosad, Conserve; Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew, Monterey Garden Insect Spray) lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide). (Ward Upham)
Heavily infested leaves turn brown as if scorched by fire and often will drop prematurely. After several weeks of feeding, the larva crawl down the trunk or fall to the ground where they pupate. Elm leaf beetles overwinter as adults.
Feeding this late in the season will not cause significant damage to an otherwise healthy tree. Therefore, spraying is not recommended unless further damage cannot be tolerated. Active larvae can be controlled with a number of insecticides. However, check to make sure that larvae are still active before spraying. In many cases, the larvae have dropped from the trees and are pupating. Spraying is ineffective once pupation starts. Effective sprays for larvae (and adults) include acephate (Acephate, Orthene), spinosad (Natural Guard Spinosad, Conserve; Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew, Monterey Garden Insect Spray) lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide). (Ward Upham)
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