Thread: BONIDE (imidacloprid) Elm Application? [BORERS?]

Lets start off by saying I hope this product works on Elm borers, I have a huge problem with my elm trunk fluxing from borers I think. Label claims it works for "bronze birch borers" I bought it for my leaf miner problem, but now realized how bad of a borer problem I may have. Not sure if it only protects the new growth leafs or hard wood too? The directions say to apply 2-3 month's before the expected infestation begins, but also best applied during early spring to early fall. Would you say half a dose early fall and then another half dose in early spring instead of one full annual dose?? I'm not sure if the ground will be thawed enough to apply 3 month's before early spring haha but if I apply early fall then will it still protect more than 3 month's from early fall? Because spring is defniately more then 3 month's from early fall... which is when it gets attacked.

Giday PF it should help your trouble. I have had good results from imidacloprid based products on Elms leaf beetle and discussion today from others say soil application works well for them on borers etc

Note, some talk that imidacloprid is related to bee colony die off CCD so be mind full of over use or local bees.

Originally Posted by derwoodii

Giday PF it should help your trouble. I have had good results from imidacloprid based products on Elms leaf beetle and discussion today from others say soil application works well for them on borers etc

Note, some talk that imidacloprid is related to bee colony die off CCD so be mind full of over use or local bees.

GREAT!! So it protects hardwood as well obviously? I'm not battling the leaf beetle it's the miner.

I am actually deathly allergic to bees, so it's a win win situation.

Note, it is a federal violoation to use an insectide in a way that is inconsistent with its label. What are trying to treat again? First you say borers but then you say miners. Which is it? If this product is not labeled for the insect you are intending to control then I would suggest you find an insectide that is registered for that insect. Also note that most homeowner formulations of imidicloprid are limited by their label to one application per year.

It's labeled for both! But it says "bronze birch borers" not "elm borers" or just "borers" then again those just might be the most common type of borers AMONG all tree variety's this formula covers for marketing reasons...

Is your problem Slime flux (a bacterial complex), borers, or Leaf miners?

Imidicloprid works on leafminers, many borers (clear wing moths are a major exception), Aphids, and adelgids. As a general rule Lepidotera and Acachnidae (mites, tick and spiders) are not killed by imidicloprid.

Before using any pest control product be sure you have the pest properly identified. Slime flux, while unsightly, does not endanger the health or stability of the tree.

Originally Posted by Castenea

Is your problem Slime flux (a bacterial complex), borers, or Leaf miners?

Imidicloprid works on leafminers, many borers (clear wing moths are a major exception), Aphids, and adelgids. As a general rule Lepidotera and Acachnidae (mites, tick and spiders) are not killed by imidicloprid.

Before using any pest control product be sure you have the pest properly identified. Slime flux, while unsightly, does not endanger the health or stability of the tree.

Well, I have leaf miners for sure. Here is a picture of a leaf on the tree from month's ago (whole thing is crispy now):


I also have this unidentified pest (maybe mites?):


As far as the trunk borers and fluxing goes, I think the borers are CAUSING the fluxing. The flux leaves a strip right down the trunk to the ground, I believe it is acidic and eats away at the bark. Here is the same spot last year (does not appear to be a wound just straight bark):


Now here is the same spot this year, looking horrible:

Unsure what your first picture is. Your diagnosis may be correct.

Your second picture is due to Eriophyid mites

Slime flux is a multi-year phenomenon. The infection occoured many years ago, and will likely last the life of the tree with some years being worse than others.

If we are even able to make a dent in cleaning up the enviorment we need to start where we live. All the photo's issues I saw are not worth treating. Make sure you know what your treating for and what product do use if at all. "I think doesn't do it"
Leaves having issues right now is not surprising and since in a lot of areas they are starting to show their age, having been out all summer getting beat up. Leaf gall insects-live with it and do a very good leaf pick in the fall, slime flux no harm to the tree and micros can't live in it so chill out, leaf skeltonizer -good leaf clean up in the fall

Originally Posted by Castenea

Unsure what your first picture is. Your diagnosis may be correct.

Your second picture is due to Eriophyid mites

Slime flux is a multi-year phenomenon. The infection occoured many years ago, and will likely last the life of the tree with some years being worse than others.

I am almost certain it's leaf miner if you saw what it looks like weeks later you would understand.

I was also told mites at one point.

I wish I knew WHY it was fluxing because it is getting much worse as time progresses and I'm almost certain the acidicness is eating the lower bark below the areas. I just keep hitting it with the hose.


Here are some more examples of damage, these are what I believe to be borer holes in the deadwood of the largest wound??:











There is this dead beetle on the opposite side of the tree, MUCH larger than any hole (like a huge bumble bee)

Originally Posted by Loraxguy

If we are even able to make a dent in cleaning up the enviorment we need to start where we live. All the photo's issues I saw are not worth treating. Make sure you know what your treating for and what product do use if at all. "I think doesn't do it"
Leaves having issues right now is not surprising and since in a lot of areas they are starting to show their age, having been out all summer getting beat up. Leaf gall insects-live with it and do a very good leaf pick in the fall, slime flux no harm to the tree and micros can't live in it so chill out, leaf skeltonizer -good leaf clean up in the fall

Dude 60%+ of the tree is crispy right now, the trees photosynthesis system is taking a huge hit/loss. I would say its worth treating, this is an extremely rare Camperdown Elm.

Can you upload some more recent photos of the tree to show us what you are seeing? That might better help us to understand the situation.

Note that the photo of the leaf with the unidentified pest that you think is a mite is a leaf gall wasp and are more an aesthetic problem than a tree health problem. The large dead beetle in another photo is a pupal casing from a cicada.

Originally Posted by PJM

Can you upload some more recent photos of the tree to show us what you are seeing? That might better help us to understand the situation.

Note that the photo of the leaf with the unidentified pest that you think is a mite is a leaf gall wasp and are more an aesthetic problem than a tree health problem. The large dead beetle in another photo is a pupal casing from a cicada.

You sir are very helpful! See someone on this forum already recommend me Talstar Pro and I had to return it because of the danger and now I have this BONIDE that was recommended to me. I read on wiki that the cicada CAN cause damage to trees?


This is what most of the tree looks like by the middle of summer:











I caught this bugger last year while picking out deadwood from a wound:

I really won't worry about the leaf issues this late in the season. Do a good fall cleanup and you should have less of the problem.

I don't think the product you are using will work on the-larva- borer in the photo. I would bet that this borer doesn't feed right under the bark where the xlyem and phoem are located, but is in much deeper and there for the product won't work.

Originally Posted by Loraxguy

I really won't worry about the leaf issues this late in the season. Do a good fall cleanup and you should have less of the problem.

I don't think the product you are using will work on the-larva- borer in the photo. I would bet that this borer doesn't feed right under the bark where the xlyem and phoem are located, but is in much deeper and there for the product won't work.

Well I want to make sure it is protected for next year, it’s a very ugly problem. This is not just another ordinary elm, this is a genetically grafted tree with almost a 10ft trunk circumference! It cannot reproduce from seed the ONLY way to obtain one is to graft the top off another camperdown onto a wych elm, and this specimen is the largest of its kind known to the internet at this time.

Can you identify or help me treat the borer? Thanks

PS- This trees photo is on wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_g...amperdownii%27

^It says "Unmaintained Camperdown Elm, Gardner MA 01440" below the photo.