Ambrosia Beetle Food

[newnandawg]

I had seen the damage from the Ambrosia Beetles at a friends house two weeks ago, where I have 35 trees planted
in ground. This morning after three inches of rain over the last two days I did an inspection of all my trees. Sure
enough I found one with numerous tooth picks sticking out from one of the dead trunks. I made the rounds and
fortunately it was only one. I cut all the die back from this winter and the pic is only half of it. It will go to the burn pile.I also
sprayed each trunk with Citrus Fruit and Nut Orchard Spray.

[Tejas]

Kill 'em, kill 'em all, Mike!

[Darkman]

Mike I'm sure sorry your having to deal with this. Is there a more economical product that has pyrethrums in it? They usually jack the price when they use the word "Citrus".

[newnandawg]

Ortho makes one with the same chemical that was $2 cheaper

[Darkman]

Thanks!

[Needaclone]

I've mixed up my own concoction in the past using a concentrated pyrethroid (pyrethrin, permethrin...I forget which off hand) and some light oil (not the heavier dormant oil), water, and a bit of dish soap as a surfactant. That would be pretty similar to the Citrus Fruit and Nut Orchard Spray, minus the sulfur.

[Rewton]

After reading about this pest over the past 2 years I have, for the first time, started to see damage to my own fig trees in the past few days. Ambrosia beetles are definitely active in Maryland and it wouldn't surprise me if they were a problem in Delaware and New Jersey this year as well. All the attacks have been on in-ground trees, all of which had at least a little bit of cold damage. I am in the process of moving and the new owners will inherit the affected trees. So far, the trees I have moved to the new place (mostly container trees and some transplanted in-ground trees) have not shown any issues. I will definitely set up traps and monitor the situation closely. I suggest everyone keep a close watch on their trees. Figs are not the trouble-free fruits they once were it seems.

[strudeldog]

A good reminder It's that time of year. Last year I had lots of ambrosia activity but so far have not seen any, but I need to to walk my trees again. Pay particular attention to trees with freeze damage.

[Needaclone]

I haven't seen any activity here in NJ yet, but I think it may just be due to the weather. It has been cold and rainy lately, and this is just around the time I'd expect to see some activity.
I only have 5 trees outside at this point. I sprayed them down 2 weeks ago, but with all the rain in the last week I'd be safe to spray them down again. With warmer weather and not much rain in the forecast for a few days in my area, there could be an emergence.
It would be a good idea for me to make my first trap of the season, too...