Damon Mcknight
Avocado trees are a tasty addition to any garden, but they are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases. If your avocado leaves are getting eaten, it could be due to a number of insects, including grasshoppers, June bugs, caterpillars, earwigs, lace bugs, mites, thrips, and more. Avocado trees can also be affected by diseases such as sunblotch, cankers, fruit rots, and wilts and blights. To prevent pests and diseases, it is important to plant avocado trees in well-drained soils and purchase certified disease-free stock. While some people use insecticides to control pests, others suggest more natural methods such as using chickens to eat the insects or applying horticultural oils or pyrethrin.
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What You'll Learn
Grasshoppers, borers, and caterpillars are common avocado leaf eaters
Avocado trees are also susceptible to borers like the orange fruit borer, which is prevalent along the coastal strip of eastern Australia. The caterpillar of the orange fruit borer feeds on the avocado fruit skin, causing damage similar to that of loopers, leafrollers, and the light brown apple moth. On Hass avocados, these caterpillars spin silken tunnels on the rough skin.
Caterpillars, such as the Amorbia (Western Avocado Leafroller), are another common pest of avocado trees. Young Amorbia larvae chew on the leaf surface, leaving a thin brown membrane or skeleton of veins. Mature caterpillars consume the entire leaf, typically starting from the center or edge. These caterpillars also feed on the fruit skin, causing scarring that leads to downgraded or culled fruit.
To protect your avocado trees from these pests, consider implementing integrated pest management strategies. This may include regular monitoring, especially during spring and summer, pruning to reduce foliage overlap, and removing abandoned citrus trees and nearby weeds that can host caterpillars. While insecticides can be used, they should be applied judiciously to avoid harming natural predators that help control pest populations.
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June bugs, earwigs, and snails also eat avocado leaves
June bugs, earwigs, and snails can be a nuisance to avocado trees, particularly young trees that are more vulnerable to pest damage. These creatures often feed on avocado leaves, causing holes and impacting the tree's growth.
June bugs, also known as May beetles, are nocturnal and are commonly found feeding on avocado leaves during late spring and early summer. They are attracted to young trees, especially the newly forming leaves, and can cause significant damage if left unchecked.
Earwigs, specifically the introduced European earwig, are another common pest of avocado trees. They feed on both dead and living insects, insect eggs, and succulent plant parts, including avocado leaves. Earwigs are most active at night, hiding during the day in places like bark crevices, mulch, and under trunk wraps. While they may not always warrant chemical treatment, earwig infestations can be managed using baited traps or by removing their hiding places.
Snails, particularly the brown garden snail, can also be a problem for avocado trees, especially after wet winters and springs. They are most active during the night and early morning when surfaces are damp, and their feeding can stunt the growth of young trees. To control snail populations, it is recommended to control weeds, apply mulch, increase irrigation intervals, and trim branches that touch the soil.
It is important to regularly inspect avocado trees, especially young ones, for signs of pest damage and to take appropriate action to manage these pests and protect the trees.
In addition to June bugs, earwigs, and snails, other pests that may feed on avocado leaves include grasshoppers, Fuller rose beetles, and caterpillars.
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Mites and lace bugs are tiny avocado tree pests
Mites are tiny avocado tree pests that are so small they can only be seen through a microscope. They are brought in by the wind, so you may notice that one side of the tree is more heavily affected. If the fruit of your avocado tree is scarred and infected, it is most likely mites. Mites thrive in hot, dry, and dusty conditions, so an unusually hot and dry summer can cause a mite explosion. Spider mites, a type of mite, are tiny yet troublesome. They suck the life out of avocado leaves, leaving behind webbing and a speckled appearance on leaves. Spider mites reproduce rapidly, especially in warm conditions, with eggs hatching in days, leading to a quick population boom. To prevent spider mites, keep the leaves clean and humidity in check. Neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays can also help to get rid of spider mites.
Lace bugs are also tiny avocado tree pests. The avocado lace bug, also known as Pseudacysta Perseae, is a sap-sucking insect that feeds on the undersides of avocado leaves, resulting in bronzing patterns. Lace bugs leave behind dark, varnish-like excrement and shed white nymphal skins on the undersides of leaves. Lace bugs are found in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Bermuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, the east and west coasts of Mexico, French Guyana in South America, and California. Lace bug populations in California are restricted to backyard avocado trees in residential areas in San Diego County and have not yet established in commercial avocado groves. The avocado lace bug was first described in Florida in 1908 from specimens collected in this state over the period 1897-1907. Green lacewing larvae are the most effective natural enemies of avocado lace bugs. Several pesticides can kill lace bugs, and introducing beneficial insects can be a game-changer in getting rid of lace bugs.
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Sunblotch and cankers are serious avocado tree diseases
Sunblotch is a serious and incurable disease that can affect avocado trees, causing discoloured or scarred fruit and stunted growth. It is introduced by grafted wood or from seed, and it can also be transmitted through mechanical means such as cutting implements and contaminated tools. The avocado fruit may develop cankers, cracks, and other unattractive features, leading to a reduced fruit yield. Identifying sunblotch can be challenging due to the variation in symptoms, and some trees may even be symptomless carriers, making it difficult to detect and control the spread.
To prevent and manage sunblotch, it is crucial to plant disease-free seeds or start with registered disease-free nursery stock. Regular monitoring and indexing of propagation sources are essential to confirm they are disease-free. This can be done by grafting propagative source material to young Mexican seedlings and observing for symptoms, or through genetic testing. If sunblotch is detected, symptomatic trees should be promptly removed from the grove, and the stumps should be chemically treated to prevent further spread. Proper sanitization of tools is also critical, as the disease can be easily transmitted through pruning instruments, harvest clippers, and injection equipment.
Cankers is another serious disease that affects avocado trees. While it tends to be milder in severity, it is highly visible and can be detrimental to the tree's health. Cankers leave sores on tree trunks and cause the branches to ooze gum. Although cankers can be cut out of tree limbs, if they reach the trunk, the avocado tree will likely die.
To prevent and manage cankers, it is important to maintain good sanitation practices and avoid tree stressors. Proper pruning techniques and regular monitoring can help identify and address cankers before they spread to the trunk. Early detection and management are crucial in preventing severe damage to avocado trees affected by cankers.
In addition to sunblotch and cankers, avocado trees in Australia may also face pest problems such as grasshoppers and caterpillars, which can damage the leaves. It is important for growers to be aware of these potential issues and take appropriate measures to protect their avocado trees.
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Neem oil and pyrethrin are used to treat avocado tree pests
Avocado trees are a tasty addition to any garden, but they are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases. The most common pests include lace bugs, mites, thrips, caterpillars, borers, and scale insects. Some of these pests can cause serious damage to avocado trees and their fruit, so it's important to be able to identify and treat infestations promptly.
Neem oil is a natural, low-toxicity pesticide that can be used to treat avocado tree pests. It is effective against sucking insects like spider mites, aphids, and scale insects. To make a neem oil spray, mix 1 1/3 tablespoons of neem oil with dish soap or natural soap, 1 cup of H2O2, and 1 gallon of warm water. Spray the mixture onto the affected avocado tree once or twice a month in the early morning or afternoon to control the pest problem. Neem oil is most effective when applied preventatively, as pests can still feed on the leaves even after spraying.
Pyrethrin is another pesticide used to treat avocado tree pests, particularly lace bugs and mites. It is a more heavy-duty pesticide than neem oil and is recommended for use when symptoms of infestation appear. Pyrethrin is a spray-on treatment, similar to neem oil. However, it is important to note that pyrethrin is a chemical pesticide, and its use should be minimised by promoting natural predators and keeping avocado trees healthy.
In addition to neem oil and pyrethrin, there are other ways to treat and prevent avocado tree pests. For example, ladybugs are natural predators of aphids and mites, so planting marigolds or building a bug hotel can help attract these beneficial insects. Regular monitoring and inspections of avocado trees are crucial for catching infestations early, and proper pruning and prompt removal of fruits will help stop the spread of certain diseases.
While it is important to treat and prevent avocado tree pests, it is also worth remembering that some damage to avocado trees is inevitable and will not kill the tree. A few pest infestations or diseased leaves are normal and are part of the biodiversity of the garden.
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Frequently asked questions
You can let your chickens scratch under your tree to find and eat the insects. You can also apply horticultural oils or pyrethrin to the tree.
Common insects that eat avocado leaves include grasshoppers, caterpillars, borers, lace bugs, and mites.
If your avocado tree has discoloured or scarred fruit, twigs with red or yellow discolouration, or rectangular cracks in the bark, it may have sunblotch. If you notice dead areas in the tree, it may be affected by wilts or blights.
You can prevent tree diseases by planting your tree in well-drained soil and purchasing certified disease-free stock.
You can remove the insects by hand, or use insecticides such as rotenone.
