Yellow Poplar Weevil damage

[mikes1098]

I have 3 large yellow poplar trees in my backyard that were hit hard by weevils this year. This is the first year it has happened, up to this point the trees have been doing great. My concern is that they do not look like they are recovering very well and I would hate to lose the trees -- I am looking for opinions on the health of the trees and if there is anything I can do for them. Will the leaves grow back this season?

Sorry for the pictures are small, but they are very tall therefore hard to get a close picture. If you click on the pics you may be able to zoom in a bit more.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j9KpY9Za_UY01O1w3QkONSiOrl5gKjhRHI3WNzfbThQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_pttNb-jk9M/Td2cYz65RZI/AAAAAAAADh8/nmK4asmTid4/s400/IMG_1965.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/michael.e.friedman/2011_05_25YellowPoplar?authkey=Gv1sRgCJWpicudvZjwSg&feat=embedwebsite">2011_05_25 yellow poplar</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ow_nfSy_r7Bp-mDgwmHhvyiOrl5gKjhRHI3WNzfbThQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K7ix5mUGyJI/Td2cX4N2N-I/AAAAAAAADik/IAGPHLRAHnE/s400/IMG_1970.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/michael.e.friedman/2011_05_25YellowPoplar?authkey=Gv1sRgCJWpicudvZjwSg&feat=embedwebsite">2011_05_25 yellow poplar</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PYzd6qkG33B6kODhAj5AZSiOrl5gKjhRHI3WNzfbThQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QW-MOUSOaS8/Td2cZgBwHAI/AAAAAAAADiE/AZCJrA1DQpI/s400/IMG_1970%252520-%252520Copy.JPG" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/michael.e.friedman/2011_05_25YellowPoplar?authkey=Gv1sRgCJWpicudvZjwSg&feat=embedwebsite">2011_05_25 yellow poplar</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aFWQoUHsEGjZp4dC34QaECiOrl5gKjhRHI3WNzfbThQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-32ccLVQwowA/Td2cYUFRvXI/AAAAAAAADh4/AMX-82VqRXM/s400/IMG_1969.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/michael.e.friedman/2011_05_25YellowPoplar?authkey=Gv1sRgCJWpicudvZjwSg&feat=embedwebsite">2011_05_25 yellow poplar</a></td></tr></table>

 

[treeseer]

what kind of weevil?

:msp_scared:

 

[mikes1098]

Yellow poplar weevils or sassafras or magnolia weevils, they are small black snout beetles. Their larvee grew in the center of the leaves, a lot of the damaged leaves then dropped.

 

[mikes1098]

Originally the tip of the leaves turned brown and some dropped. Inside of some I found the weevils ready to emerge.

Lately more of the younger leaves are dropping with this pattern. Is it weevil damage or does it have another issue too?

 

[treeseer]

Odontopus calceatus, a new one on me! The book says they seldom hurt the tree by themselves, so destroy leaf litter to stop overwintering of beetles, and invigorate the tree roots, starting with mulch.

 

[mikes1098]

Thanks treeseer, I am glad there is a chance the tree will not be permanently damaged. I typically keep the ground free of leaf litter. A big chunk is actually covered with moss -- hopefully this will prevent these guys from overwintering.

You mention "invigorate the roots" how exactly do you do that on a tree this size?