Leaf Miner

By Cheryl Jahn

"Pretty" aspens not so pretty

Silver Aspens the result of Leaf Miner

Jul 5, 2019 | 3:56 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The aspens around town have taken on a silvery hue. Pretty, some might say. But it is anything but. It is the result of an insect, the Phyllocnists populiella, or leaf miner.

In the spring, the moth lays a egg on each leaf and it turns into the insect that lives between the layers of the leaf, chewing up trails of chlorophyll, leaving a silver trail.

“There is no more systemic insecticide available. In the old days, it was very simple, we just sprayed the tree when you notice it on the tree early in the spring with Cygon 2E or tree or shrub spray. That’s not available anymore.”

Nor will a topical insecticide work as the culprit is protected in between the layers of the leaf. According to Agriculture Canada, ” a heavy infestation causes a reduction of annual growth, but no permanent damage results. However, repeated infestations over several years will weaken the trees, making them susceptible to attack by other insects and diseases.”

And winter kill, which is what we have to worry about in this region. Jos Van Hage with Art Knapps Plantland says keeping the tree healthy going into winter will help. He urges people fertilize their affected trees well, as well as water thoroughly to encourage new growth. But don’t fertilize after August 15 in order to let the tree get ready for a winter cold season.

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And in the fall, when the leaves have fallen, rake them up and get rid of them.