Birch Leafminer
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Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae Hosts: Gray and paper birch are preferred, but yellow, black, European white, and river birch may also be attacked Evidence: The most obvious sign of infestation is severe browning and distortion of foliage beginning in mid-May (a). Larval feeding causes irregular blotch mines that are translucent green at first, turning to gray and eventually brown (b,c). Mines contain black waste material (frass). Larvae are flat and light greenish-yellow with four black spots on the underside near the front. Eggs are laid singly in slits made in developing leaves. Both eggs and larvae show up as translucent spots when the leaf is held up to the light. Browning may increase as damaged leaves dry out over the growing season, or defoliation may occur. Life Cycle: There are 3 to 4 generations per year. The insects overwinter as prepupae in soil under infested trees. The small black sawfly adults emerge in May and early June, and lay eggs in individual slits cut in the upper surface of developing leaves. Adult females require newly developing foliage for successful oviposition. Larvae eat the tissue between the upper and lower leaf surfaces, and eventually chew through the leaf surface and drop to the ground to pupate. New adults emerge and lay eggs to continue the cycle. |
a. Trees attacked by Birch leafminer appear offcolor |
b. Birch leafminer larvae make blotch mines which eventually give leaves a brown, wrinkled appearance. |
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c. Inner leaf tissue may not be completely destroyed by the Birch leafminer. Note the appearance of black frass in mines. |
Management: Damage tends to be more serious on open-growing ornamental birches than on trees in forest stands. Trees weakened by birch leafminer may be more susceptible to attack by other insects and pathogens. Control of the first generation greatly reduces damage by subsequent generations. Prevention of egg-laying at budbreak may be accomplished using systemic pesticides. This insect may also be controlled by applying appropriate pesticides as the new leaves emerge.
Similar Species: Besides the birch skeletonizer, there are more than six other species of leafminer, including the birch casebearer. Each forms a unique mine and the birch casebearer forms a larval case. This, along with the presence or absence of frass in the mine and differing seasonal development, can be used to separate the species.
Photo Credits:
Figure a: Ronald S. Kelley, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Morrisville, VT.
Figure b: E. Bradford Walker, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Waterbury, VT.
Figure c: E. Bradford Walker, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Waterbury, VT.
References:
Drooz, A.T. 1985. Insects of Eastern Forests. USDA Forest Service Miscellaneous Publication 1426. p 399;
Johnson, W.T. and Lyon, H.H. 1991. Insects That Feed on Trees and Shrubs. 2nd edition. Cornell University Press. p 184-185;
Martineau, R. 1984. Insects Harmful to Forest Trees. Agriculture Canada Government Publishing Centre, Supply and Services, Ottawa. p 122-124;
Rose, A.H. and Lindquist, O.H. 1982. Insects of Eastern Hardwood Trees. Canadian Forest Service Publication, Forestry Technical Report 29. p 85-86.
Leaflet Bi-2 in Field Guide to Common Insect Pest of Urban Trees in the Northeast
