Alfalfa leaf weevil — Phytonomus transsylvanicus
Class: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Hardwings - Coleoptera
Family: Weevils - Curculionidae
The harmfulness of the alfalfa leaf weevil
This type of weevil is common everywhere where cultivated or wild alfalfa grows. Weevil adults are harmed by gnawing holes in the stems and holes in the leaves. The damage from the imago is not significant, but the larvae cause quite a bit of damage. In the early stages of development, they feed on young buds, later they gnaw oblong holes on the leaves, eat the tops of stems, young leaves, and buds. Older larvae chew through stems with inflorescences. Damaged plants lose color and the ovary dries out.
Morphology of the alfalfa leaf weevil
The adult weevil is 4-5 mm in size, the pronotum is narrower than the elytra, has protruding sides, and is flat. The elytra are thickened and have almost parallel tubercles on the shoulders; the scuteal spots are clearly defined, black; the sixth interval of the elytra is darkened in the middle; hairs are two or two and a half times longer than scales.
The weevil larva is 10-12 mm in size, has a caterpillar shape, no legs, moves thanks to sucker-like outgrowths; green color, narrow yellow-white stripe along the back; the body of the larva is covered with dark warts and light hairs.
Alfalfa leaf weevil - Phytonomus transsylvanicus
Developmental biology of the alfalfa leaf weevil
Weevils overwinter in the adult stage in places where both cultivated and wild forms of alfalfa grow, especially yellow alfalfa, either in the top layer of soil or under plant debris. Beetles are active at air temperatures above 12°C.
Beetles appear in the fields at the beginning of the alfalfa growing season. When the plants reach a height of about 5 cm, the females begin to lay eggs, placing them inside the main stems or side branches. One clutch consists of 2-30 eggs.
Females are very fertile and can lay up to 2,500 eggs. Oviposition lasts about a month, and therefore larvae of different ages can always be found on crops.
Egg development lasts from 10 to 15 days. The larvae feed for 15-22 days. Having finished feeding, the larvae pupate in transparent cobweb cocoons between leaves and flowers, mainly on the tops of plants. The pupal stage lasts 7-12 days.
The beetles hatched from the pupae remain in the cocoon for another 2-3 days until the skin completely hardens. Young beetles prefer to stay among alfalfa stems, near the root collar and under plant debris.
In September, adults begin to move to their wintering grounds. The beetle develops over 30-48 days. Only one generation develops per year.
Control measures against alfalfa leaf weevil
Preventive control measures
- harrowing of crops before alfalfa begins to grow;
- disking of thickened alfalfa crops;
- mowing alfalfa during the stemming phase.
Biological control measures
Chemical control measures
If there are 5-8 beetles or 20-30 larvae on the crops per 100 sweeps of the net, it is necessary to spray with insecticides.
- Actellik 500, k.e. – 1.0 – 1.5 l/ha, spraying during the growing season of alfalfa, treatment must be done 2 times with an interval of 20 days.
It belongs to the maple genus and can also be called sycamore maple or sycamore maple. It can grow up to 30 meters in height and has a dense, rounded, wide crown. It has large leaves, up to 18 centimeters in diameter, with five lobes that end in sharp lobes. The leaves are attached to the branches using long cuttings. They usually have a light green color, but with the onset of autumn they can take on different colors: red, brown, burgundy and other shades.
Norway maple begins to bloom in the month of May before the leaves bloom and continues to bloom for 10 days. By the time flowering stops, the maple may also complete the process of leaf appearance. Norway maple is a dioecious plant, and therefore male and female flowers are on different trees. It bears fruit annually and abundantly. Seeds ripen in August-September and can remain on the tree until spring. It begins to bear fruit only in the seventeenth year of life.
Reproduction of Norway maple occurs by seeds, grafting and young shoots formed in the area of the root system. It grows very rapidly in the first three years after planting. It quickly takes root when transplanted, easily tolerates frosty winters, is resistant to winds, and does very well in the shade. Does not take root on rocky soils and salt marshes, prefers moisture-containing fertile lands.
It does well in urban conditions, and therefore in Russia it is the main tree species for landscaping streets and creating parks. It is planted both individually and in groups in the form of entire alleys. Norway maple can be found in deciduous and mixed forests almost throughout Europe, the North Caucasus and the southern borders of the taiga.
This Norway maple has several varieties that differ from each other in the type of crown, their height, the color and shape of the leaves, and other features.
This is not a large tree, about 6 meters high and has a spherical dense crown that does not require pruning. Grows slowly, frost, wind and shade tolerant. Grows in wet and fertile soils. It is little affected by pests and diseases. It grows well and develops favorably with constant feeding. Very suitable for landscaping streets and areas around residential buildings.
Given deciduous tree reaches a height of 12 meters with a wide pyramidal tight crown. They differ in the presence of a trunk with dark gray bark. It has large leaves with 5-7 lobes of bright red color, transitioning to a shiny burgundy, and with the onset of autumn the colors fade. Simultaneously with the appearance of leaves, tiny flowers begin to bloom. yellow flowers. This type of maple tolerates shade well, but prefers places where there is enough light. Does not like a lot of moisture and does not tolerate a lack of it. It is very famous among amateur gardeners, thanks to its decorative crown. Tolerates urban conditions well. The main pest at the moment is powdery mildew. Maple propagates by grafting.
It has an oval dense crown. Grows in height up to 20 meters. Green finger-shaped leaves with a white edge become strawberry-colored when opened, and by autumn the leaves turn yellow. Young shoots are light golden-green in color. It blooms with yellow-green, rounded, flat-shaped flowers. Drummond maple grows and develops well in moist, fertile soils. Sometimes leaves without borders appear on the branches. Such leaves must be removed immediately, and if there are a lot of them on a branch, then the entire branch is removed. In addition, maple pruning is usually done after the leaves have completely blossomed, because during this period the wounds heal quickly and the tree loses a small amount of sap.
Leaves begin to fall in mid-September. They are mainly propagated by grafting. They are used to form living barriers, form alleys and design parks and squares. The lush crown and multi-colored leaves determine its decorative value.
It has an unusual leaf color, a dense crown and can grow up to 20 meters in height. The leaves, almost black in color, retain their color throughout the season, and by autumn they take on a purple tint. The yellow-orange inflorescences create a certain contrast against the background of the budding leaves, which makes the Crimson King maple very attractive. It grows very quickly and is not averse to growing in any soil; it thrives in light and semi-shaded areas. Gives garden areas originality and sophistication.
Use of Norway maple bark and leaves
In folk medicine, leaves and bark are widely used. For diarrhea, decoctions are made from the bark and taken orally; in addition, the bark has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. The leaves are able to relieve fever and strengthen the body's tone. Decoctions are also made from maple leaves that help with diseases. Bladder. Norway maple can be safely classified as a honey plant. One hectare of Norway maple plantings can produce up to 200 kg of light honey, with excellent taste qualities. Honey improves immunity, calms the nervous system, and has antiviral and antibacterial properties.
In the not-too-distant past, its leaves were used as a dye for wool. Various furniture, souvenirs and crafts are made from maple wood. Entire parks, alleys and gardens are planted with them.
Leaf weevils gnaw leaves and petals of trees, shrubs, and sometimes herbaceous plants. Occasionally, buds and young apical shoots are also damaged. Damaged plants lose their decorative properties.
These beetles are representatives of the genus Phyllobius(pale green, beech, pear, green, golden-green, nettle, red-yellow, budding, oblong, decorated, patterned, tired, etc.) – rather small in size (up to 12 mm long), common in the European part Russia and Siberia.
Leaf weevils are polyphagous and have quite bright colors - from green-blue to bronze-brown. Males and females often have different colors.
Most species of beetles emerge from the soil in the spring, when rosaceous plants are in the rose bud phase. They usually feed in the early morning, evening and night, as well as in cloudy weather, on the buds, leaves and flowers of various tree and shrub plants for about a month. During the daytime, they are found in rolled up leaves, under loose bark, or in the litter under plants.
The eggs are laid in the soil, and the legless, white, thick, wrinkled larvae that emerge live in the upper layers of the soil, feeding on the small roots of plants. Their influence on the condition of plants is insignificant. The larvae also pupate in the soil. The pupae are pale white in color, with black eyes, about 5 mm long. The beetles emerge from their pupae in late summer or autumn, but remain in the soil for the winter.
Risk group
Spring – early summer: apricot, quince, birch, hawthorn, beech, elm, hornbeam, Walnut, pear, oak, strawberry, willow, maple, nettle, hazel, raspberry, alder, aspen, rose, rowan, plum, thorn, poplar, bird cherry, apple tree and etc.
Late summer – early autumn: lilac (middle and lower tier of crown, basal shoots), ash and etc.
Significant harm is caused mainly to young plants.
What damage do weevils cause?
Beetles gnaw leaves and petals of trees and shrubs (sometimes herbaceous ones) in the form of recesses or coves along the edges, the leaves become lacy. Occasionally, buds and young apical shoots are also damaged. Damaged leaves look unattractive, their decorative value (and the composition as a whole) decreases, but the plants remain healthy.
Prevention
- choosing a site away from wild trees and forest plantations;
- loosening of tree trunk circles;
- removing fallen leaves from the area;
- removal of diseased and dry plant branches;
- When protecting raspberries and strawberries, you can plant garlic or onions near each bush; their sharp and strong smell will repel weevils.
- attracting insectivorous birds to the site by creating protective areas of thorny bushes and hanging birdhouses and nest boxes;
- spraying plants with a biological preparation Fitoverm;
- collecting beetles from leaves;
- shaking beetles from the crowns of young trees and from the lower part of the crowns of old trees in early spring (before mating and egg laying) onto dense material spread on the surface of the ground and destroying them;
- using homemade traps (burlap is laid out on the soil and covered on top corrugated paper). In the morning, weevils will hide in these traps to wait out the daytime hours in shelter. After noon, the traps must be cleaned and the collected beetles must be destroyed.
The last three methods are effective only in small areas
Active weevil control measures
During the period when buds appear, you can spray the plants with self-prepared solutions:
- 10 – 13 g of powdered mustard, diluted in 3 liters warm water;
- 40 g of laundry soap, grated on a fine grater and diluted in 10 liters of water;
- 2.5 – 3 kg of wood ash, diluted in 10 liters of water;
- 5 g of potassium permanganate, diluted in 10 liters of water;
- 80 - 100 g of laundry soap, also grated on a fine grater (or liquid soap), are mixed with 10 liters of warm water, then 20 g of borax and 200 g of kerosene are added. The mixture is intensively stirred until an emulsion is formed, then the plant is immediately treated with the mixture.
It is also possible to use industrially manufactured drugs during the growing season: Kinmiksa(2.5 ml per 10 liters of water), Decis(2 ml per 10 liters of water), Fufanon, Kemifos, Karbofos-500, Iskra-M(10 ml per 10 liters of water). Consumption – from 2 to 5 liters per tree (depending on the age of the tree).
You can treat plant crowns during the flight of beetles Fozalon or Bazudin.
Soil treatment is occasionally used against leaf weevil larvae ( Diazinon, Bazudin).
Before the first use, any drug must be tested on one plant. If the plant’s condition has not worsened within 24 hours, the drug can be used on all protected plants of this species. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to alternate medications.
Be careful when using plant protection products. Always read the label and product information before use. Carry out processing in compliance with all safety rules.
Almost any type of maple tree can become a worthy garden decoration. The beautiful and varied shape of the leaves, their bright autumn colors, original inflorescences and fruits, the texture of the bark and the color of the shoots have long attracted attention. Many species are excellent honey plants and belong to early flowering plants.
The genus and its representatives
Olga Nikitina
Genus Maple (Acer) belongs to the maple family and has about 150 species, most of which grow in the mountain forests of Europe, Asia, North and Central America. The genus includes trees and shrubs with opposite simple or compound, often lobed leaves. The flowers are collected in panicles or corymbs, the fruit is a fractional dipterate.
Most maples are demanding on soil fertility, air and soil moisture, are relatively shade-tolerant, densely crowned, wind-resistant and are characterized by fairly rapid growth. They propagate by seeds, cuttings, and decorative forms by grafting.
Many species of the genus have valuable wood, which is used in the furniture industry, for the manufacture of sports equipment and musical, especially bowed, instruments.
The sap of maple trees contains quite a lot of sugar, especially those types that grow in North America, For example to. sugar (A. saccharum). In Canada, the sap of this species is used to obtain maple sugar, and its leaves are national symbol countries. A stylized image of a carved sugar leaf appears on the jackets of Canadian hockey players and on the flag of Canada.
The Maple genus is characterized not only by its enormous species and varietal diversity, but also by its special wood structure, leaf shape, and structure of inflorescences and fruits. Taking this into account, botanists divided it into 17 sections, so the systematic position of the genus is very complex.
The most common type of maple found in our country is K. holly (A. platanoides), unlike many, grows not in mountain, but in lowland forests. Its appearance and characteristic leaves are well known to everyone, even those who are far from dendrology. Tree up to 30 m high, with an ovoid, tent-shaped dense crown.
The varietal diversity of K. holly is so great that, using only it, you can create interesting woody compositions. This species has color forms, varieties with a modified growth form and leaf blade. Maples with unusual leaf colors, such as purple, like those of the ‘ Royal Red’, ‘Crimson King’, ‘Deborah’, ‘Schwedleri‘, or with a white stripe along the edge of the leaf blade, like ‘ Drummondii’. Decorative forms ‘ Columnare' And ' Globosum’ attract attention with their crown - columnar and spherical, which makes them a bright accent in compositions. They are also good in solitaire and row planting.
False sycamore maple, or sycamore (A. pseudoplatanus), is a typical representative of mountain forests in the southwestern part of Ukraine and the Caucasus. Tree up to 40 m high and up to 2 m in diameter, with dark gray bark peeling off in plates to reveal light young bark. Forms a dense spherical crown, especially beautiful when standing freely.
Unlike the first two types K. field (A. campestre) is a tree of the second size, up to 15 m high. Sometimes in the Caucasus there are specimens up to 25 m. It has cute small 5-lobed leaves and unusual fruits - the wings of the dipterans diverge at an angle of 180 ◦, forming a straight line. This maple is relatively drought-resistant and can withstand slight soil salinity.
Low Far Eastern k. bearded (A. barbinerve) is found in mountain mixed and coniferous forests, along forest edges and clearings and on rocky slopes. In general, it is characterized as a highly decorative tree, but in central Russia it can freeze. But K. Prirechny (A. ginnala), growing in the same region, is characterized by high frost resistance and unpretentiousness. With a height of up to 6 m, it is quite suitable for creating hedges and single plantings. In autumn, its three-lobed leaves turn purplish-red, imbuing landscapes with vibrant colors.
When listing the Far Eastern species, one cannot fail to mention the often found in this region K. small-leaved(A. mono). This is a tree, up to 15 m high, with a low-hanging crown. The leaves are similar to the foliage of K. holly, but 2–3 times smaller, and in the fall they turn bright yellow and red. Plantings of K. small-leaved plants effectively reduce city noise.
Trunk K. green-haired(A. tegmentosum), growing in mountain mixed and coniferous forests Far East, is decorated with smooth green bark with longitudinal white stripes. With such unusual bark, this maple always stands out from other plants.
If we talk about the beauty of maple leaves, then, of course, first of all we should mention k. palmate, or fan-shaped (A. palmatum), without which not a single garden in Japan can do. Its openwork dissected leaves acquire very bright, picturesque colors in the fall. Unfortunately, this maple is quite heat-loving, and in central Russia it freezes to the level of snow cover. Therefore, when creating stylized Japanese gardens in our climate, it is better to replace it with no less spectacular, but more frost-resistant to. Manchurian (A. mandschuricum) And K. false Sieboldov(A. pseudosieboldianum).
A large number of maples grow in North America. Many of them settled with us in Russia long ago, having acquired a second homeland here, and K. ash-leaved (A. negundo) has become so naturalized in our open spaces that in some plantings it behaves like a weed. Now it is difficult to imagine that this plant was previously grown in greenhouses as a valuable exotic. Currently, K. ash-leaved is widely distributed in culture, primarily due to its rapid growth, frost resistance, and undemanding soil conditions. However, its fragility and low decorative qualities (by the way, only in female specimens) force this species to be used as a temporary breed with other slow-growing, but more decorative ones. In the assortment of modern nurseries you can find a number of interesting color forms of this species, which are widely used in landscaping: ‘ Aureo-Variegatum’, ‘Variegatum’, ‘Flamingo’, ‘Odessanum’.
North American growing in river valleys and swamps K. red(A. rubrum) tolerates excess moisture and stagnant water well, and is also undemanding to soils. It received its specific name for the red female flowers and the orange-red color of the leaves in autumn. Its decorative forms are 'Red Sunset' And ' Scanlon’ – characterized by a pyramidal crown and dark red leaves in autumn.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful can be called, again, the North American species - K. silver(A. saccharinum) and its decorative form ‘ Wieri’. The spectacular crown with drooping branches is covered with carved, deeply dissected leaves, green on top and silvery-white below.
In conclusion, I would like to note that maples are unique and highly decorative plants, without which our forests and artificial landscapes would not be so bright and attractive.
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Maple diseases
Ella Sokolova, Candidate of Biological Sciences
Leaf diseases lead to a decrease in the decorative value of maple, premature leaf fall and weakening of young plants.
Powdery mildew caused by fungi of the genus Sawadaia. A characteristic sign of the disease is a white, cobwebby or denser, powdery coating of mycelium on both sides of the leaves. Later, the fruiting bodies of the pathogens form on the mycelium in the form of small black dots, evenly scattered over the entire affected surface or collected in groups, often along the leaf veins.
Are affected different types maple.
Black spot caused by a fungus Rhytisma acerinum. In the second half of summer, large, round, black, slightly convex spots with a yellowish-green border form on the upper side of the leaves. Often numerous spots merge, covering almost the entire surface of the leaves.
Norway and field maples are affected, and other species are less common.
Pink spot caused by a fungus Phyllosticta platanoides. Large pinkish, merging spots with a dark brown border appear on both sides of the leaves. On the underside of the spots, sporulation of the pathogen forms in the form of numerous small, dark gray or black dots.
Norway maple is affected.
Variable spotting caused by a fungus Phyllosticta negundinis. In early July, numerous merging spots of round or irregular shape appear on both sides of the leaves. At first they are yellowish, ocher, later they become white with a darker edge. Fungus sporulation forms on both sides of the spots in the form of scattered small dark dots. With severe damage, the spots cover almost the entire surface of the leaves.
Ash-leaved maple is affected.
Deformations caused by a fungus Taphrina polyspora. In the second half of summer, angular, dark brown or black, swollen, wrinkled spots form on both sides of the leaves. Numerous spots merge and cover a significant part of the surface of the leaves, which leads to their severe deformation.
Tatarian maple is affected.
Vascular and necrosis-cancer diseases of trunks and branches
Diseases of this group lead to weakening and drying out of the maple, reducing the decorative value of the species. In addition, necrosis-cancer diseases contribute to the infection of trees with rot.
Verticillium wilt (wilt) caused by a fungus Verticillium dahliae. With this disease, the vascular system is affected, so outwardly it manifests itself in the drying out of individual branches or the entire crown. Main sign diseases - affected vessels - can only be seen on cross sections of trunks and branches. They look like individual dark dots or dark brown blurry rings. In this case, the wood acquires a greenish, olive or greenish-black color. Drying of plants, depending on age, occurs within 1–5 years.
Various types of maple are affected, but Norway maple is more common.
Tubercular (nectria) necrosis caused by a fungus Tubercularia vulgaris. During the growing season, from cracks in the bark of affected trunks and branches, sporulation of the pathogen emerges in longitudinal rows in the form of rounded pads with a diameter of up to 3 mm, pink, rose-red, brick-red, dark brown. In Norway maple, in addition to the bark, blood vessels are affected, which leads to faster drying out. Various types of maple are affected, but Norway maple is more common.
Stepped (common, nectria) cancer caused by a fungus Nectria galligena. Round or oval wounds form on trunks and branches, growing from year to year. At first they are noticeable in the form of depressions in the bark. After the dead bark falls off, the wood of the wounds is exposed with a clearly defined gradation. Often, several wounds develop on different sides of trunks and branches.
Rot diseases of trunks and branches
Infection with stem rot reduces the resistance of trees to wind and leads to the formation of windbreaks, which is especially dangerous for plantings on private plots and in the city.
White, core (central), fibrous rot caused by false tinder fungus (Phellinus igniarius). The fruiting bodies are perennial, woody, hoof-shaped, up to 20 cm in diameter, up to 12 cm in height, with a dark gray upper surface and a rusty brown lower surface. Rot rises up the trunk to a height of 2–3 m.
Yellowish-brown, core (central), fibrous lamellar rot caused by maple polypore (Oxyporus populinus). The fruiting bodies are perennial, in the form of small caps with a diameter of 2–6 cm, a height of 1–2 cm, solitary or collected in imbricate groups. The upper side of the caps is white, yellowish-gray, overgrown with green moss, the lower side is yellowish-white. Rot develops in the lower and middle parts of the trunk.
Brown, sound (central), prismatic rot caused by sulfur-yellow tinder fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus) The fruiting bodies are annual, in the form of spade-shaped caps with a diameter of 10–40 cm, up to 4 cm thick, collected in tiled groups. The caps are flat, fleshy, soft, and harden when dry. Their upper side is bright yellow or yellow-orange, the lower side is gray-yellow. Rot develops in the butt part of the trunks, rising to a height of 2–3 m, sometimes higher.
White, sound (central), fissured rot caused by scaly polypore (Polyporus squamosus). The fruiting bodies are annual, fleshy, in the form of large caps with a diameter of 10–15 cm, on central or lateral thick stalks. The upper side of the caps is yellowish with brown scales, the lower side is yellow-brown. Rot extending up to 5–6 m develops in the lower and middle parts of the trunk.
In addition to them, other rots are also found on maple: white marble, heartwood-sapwood (the causative agent is a real tinder fungus - Fomes fomentarius), white heartwood-sapwood (causative agent – Phellinus punctata – Phellinus punctatus), white fissured sound (causative agent – Climacodon northern – Climacodon septentrionalis), brown superficial (causative agent – common chinwort – Schizophyllum commune) and etc.
Black spot maple 
Variable spotting of ash maple 
Step cancer 
Section of a stem affected by wilt 
Tubercular (nectria) necrosis of maple trunk 
Rot of a trunk affected by real tinder fungus
Maple pests
Tamara Galasyeva, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences
Various maple species feed on about 200 species of harmful insects and herbivorous mites, which damage leaves, shoots, branches, trunks, roots and seeds. The infestation of maples by pests is rarely widespread, so the wrong impression is created that these plants are almost not affected by insects.
Most of the pests recorded on maples are polyphagous, and their numbers increase in areas with warm climates, in the south of European Russia, as well as in Moldova, Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia, in the southern regions of the Far East.
Leaf-eating insects
Leaf-boring pests include pests whose larvae eat holes in leaves or eat them entirely. These are mainly caterpillars of butterflies of various families: leaf rollers (omnivorous, hawthorn, variegated golden, etc.), moths (smoky dotted, winter, peeled, etc.), noctuid moths (maple winged, pear, etc.), moths (red-tailed moth , gypsy moth etc.), corydalis (maple, humpback, silver hole, etc.), woodlice butterflies of the family Limacodidae, as well as maple sawfly larvae. Leaf-cutter bees gnaw out small, almost round holes in the leaves. The maple leaf weevil beetles eat the leaves from the edges in the form of small, irregularly shaped cutouts.
Sucking pests
These insects suck juices from leaves, shoots, branches and trunks. These include several species of aphids, including the giant maple aphid, which sucks sap from trunks and feeds in colonies in cracks in the bark of growing trees. 17 species of coccids have been recorded on various types of maple: scale insects, false scale insects and mealybugs, most of which can be found on other deciduous species. The most common scale insects found on maples are the willow and comma scale insects, the acacia false scale insect, the maple mealybug and the maple felt bug. The larvae and adult insects of the maple whitefly suck the juices from the underside of the leaves.
Leaf-mining insects
This group includes mainly caterpillars of small species of butterflies - moths and sawfly larvae, which gnaw the tissue inside the leaf, laying passages of various shapes, noticeable on one or both sides.
More often on maple leaves there are small, light, oval-shaped mines of the maple moth, visible on the underside, and brown, large, slightly swollen mines of the maple blister sawfly, visible on both sides of the leaf.
Gall formers
This category includes 13 species of herbivorous mites that form galls, tubercles and warts of various colors on the leaves. Galls of the maple felt mite are most often found on maple leaves. The galls are initially white and later turn brown.
Xylophagous
These are insects that mainly inhabit the trunks and branches of drying and withered trees. Several species of bark beetles inhabit the wood of maples, including gypsy beetle and sapwood, and longhorn beetles of the genus Rhopalopus, green narrow-bodied borer, horntails of the genus Xiphydria and some others.
Root pests - rhizophages
Maple gallworm larvae develop on the thin roots of living maples, forming dense spherical galls up to 8 mm in diameter.
Seed pests - carpophages
Not only birds and small rodents feed on maple seeds, but also insects, including caterpillars of codling moths and seed-eating weevils.
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Maple in landscaping
Olga Nikitina
Maple is often called a symbol of autumn for the amazing colors of its foliage during this period. The Japanese say that few flowers can compare with the beauty of autumn maple leaves. At this time, a wide variety of combinations of shades are possible: from yellow-orange and red to burgundy, almost purple and pink. Even fallen leaves for a long time look like a beautiful carpet.
Usage
Many types of maple have long been valued by gardeners as reliable, very decorative woody plants and decorate parks, squares, and private gardens. These types include, first of all, large trees - K. holly, K. false sycamore, K. silver, K. ash-leaved. Their thick, lush, tent-shaped crowns are very beautiful, casting extensive shadows and trapping large amounts of dust and dirt on the leaves. Many maples are shade-tolerant, can withstand urban conditions well, tolerate compacted and dry soil, and are wind-resistant thanks to a fairly powerful root system. The branches of K. ash-leaved and especially K. silverweed are fragile, often breaking under strong gusts of wind and under the weight of snow, and therefore these species require planting in a protected place. Almost all maples suffer from soil salinity and cannot tolerate stagnant water.
Large maples are usually used for single, alley plantings, to create arrays and groups, dense protective strips.
More compact maple species, often growing as vigorous shrubs, such as K. Prirechny, K. Tatar, can be found in the form of tapeworms, in groups with other woody and herbaceous plants; they look very impressive on the edges, in free-growing and trimmed hedges.
Types and varieties
Among the many decorative maple varieties introduced into cultivation, preference should be given to long-tested, reliable and winter-hardy ones.
First of all, these are varieties K. holly:
'Royal Red' , 'Crimson King' ,‘Faaseen’s Black’ ’ and others with leaves of various red shades throughout the growing season;
'Drummondii' with a very decorative white border along the edge of the sheet;
'Cleveland' And 'Emerald Queen' – these varieties change color throughout the season: light red when blooming, bright green in summer, yellow-orange in autumn.
Shapes and varieties invariably attract attention and cause delight K. ash-leaved with elegant leaf colors:
'Flamingo' – the leaves are green with a pink border when blooming, which later turns white;
‘Argenteo-variegatum’ with bright white-variegated leaf blades.
Popular garden decorative forms K. false sycamore: ‘Leopoldii’ – green leaves with a variegated white pattern. ‘Purpurea’ – the underside of the leaf blade is purple, the top is dark green. When the wind blows, the leaves sway on long petioles, turning first one side or the other, which produces a stunning impression.
Decorative deciduous varieties of large maples are most suitable for single plantings and for adding bright color accents to the composition. The rich color of the leaves appears in well-lit spaces and with a sufficient amount of nutrients in the soil. However, varieties with edged leaf blades suffer from the scorching rays of the sun; for planting them it is better to select places with sparse light.
The decorative value of maples lies not only in the attractiveness of the leaves. The Greenbark and the Pennsylvanian with their very impressive bark, the pattern of which consists of alternating contrasting white and green stripes, deserve special compliments. The Norway maple is beautiful during its flowering period, and the Tatarian maple is beautiful when it is covered with ripening burgundy lionfish.
Spherical crown that does not require pruning, variety 'Globosum' K. holly corresponds to the aesthetics of the regular style and is often used to decorate ceremonial areas. Not so common, but very interesting columnar shape K. holly 'Columnare' .
A small garden will be decorated with an unusually beautiful K. False Sieboldov. This charming maple forms a tiered, loose, see-through crown, as if covered with a lace of exclusively decorative dissected leaves. It is always used in Japanese gardens and is a magnificent sight planted near water or among stones, in compositions with shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, mahonias, low creeping conifers, perennials (bulbs, hostas, grasses, ferns).
Healing properties
Marina Kulikova, Candidate of Biological Sciences
WITH Among the large maple family, there are practically no plants used in traditional medicine. But traditional healers did not ignore this group either. Leaves, flowers and fruits are used for medicinal purposes. Norway maple. The leaves are harvested in the first half of summer, dried in the sun and dried in a room with good ventilation. The fruits are collected when ripe and dried in the oven at a temperature of 50–60 °C. Raw materials are stored in bags or closed wooden containers for two years.
Maple juice, collected in early spring, is used in the treatment of gout, scurvy, atherosclerosis, liver and kidney diseases, to strengthen nervous system, as well as for vitamin deficiencies. WITH therapeutic purpose apply and young leaves as a choleretic, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent. Flowers And fruit used for stomach and intestinal disorders.
A decoction of leaves and seeds of Norway maple is drunk for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as an antipyretic. Prepare the decoction as follows: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dry crushed raw materials is poured into a glass of boiling water and boiled in a water bath for 30 minutes, then cooled, filtered, squeezed and boiled water is added to the original volume. Take 2 tbsp. spoons 4 – 5 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The same decoction is used as a rinse for inflammation of the mouth.
Long-term non-healing wounds can be sprinkled with crushed fresh leaves of Norway maple, having previously treated them with any antiseptic agent. Hard-to-heal ulcers are treated in the same way.
Honey, obtained from maple, is rich in zinc. 100 g of honey contains about 0.5 mg, with a daily norm of 12–15 mg. Zinc is involved in regulating the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, the activity of the sex glands, improves immunity, and promotes wound healing.
Norway maple sap, which contains ascorbic and other organic acids, is collected in early spring, before flowering begins. At the same time, the bark of young shoots is harvested. Ripe fruits and leaves collected in summer are also used. The bark, leaves and fruits contain saponins, tannins, and alkaloids. Maple sap has been used for a long time as a general tonic and anti-scorbutic remedy.
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Traditional healers advise taking an infusion of fruits, bark or leaves for diseases of the kidneys and bladder, as an anti-inflammatory and expectorant for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and also as a tonic. It is also used to wash purulent and poorly healing wounds.
The infusion is easy to prepare at home. To do this, you can use 1 teaspoon of crushed fruits or 2 tbsp. spoons of leaves, as well as 1 tbsp. a spoonful of crushed dry bark. The raw materials are poured with 250 ml of boiling water, left in a water bath for 45 minutes, and filtered. Take the resulting infusion 3 – 4 times a day, 50 ml. Store it in the refrigerator.
And “healing” brooms are obtained from Norway maple. This broom absorbs sweat well, draws out toxins, impurities and other harmful substances from human skin. Massage with a maple broom has not only an analgesic, but also an anti-inflammatory effect. Maple leaves are strong antiseptics. Maple leaves and juice crushed into pulp promote wound healing.
It is difficult to imagine a modern city, including a metropolis, without the shady, reclining crowns of Norway maple. But, in addition to exhaust from cars and industrial enterprises, these trees are plagued by pests and diseases. Leaves are especially affected in spring. Infections and insects that attack maple trees negatively affect normal nutrition and other physiological processes. Under this harmful effects the maple dies within a few years. That is why treating maple trees against diseases and pests in the spring is very important for such urban plantings.
Types of maple diseases and pests
The most common maple disease is powdery mildew, a whitish coating on the foliage that appears in late spring and early summer. This fungal disease of the tree must be treated at the first stage of its appearance or, even better, preventative measures must be taken. To do this, you should use an infusion of field sow thistle or spraying with fungicides.
Another of the most common maple diseases is black spot, which appears as dark, uneven spots on the leaves. As a preventive measure, you can spray the foliage with a solution of copper sulfate and laundry soap or foundation. It should be noted that black spot does not cause any harm, other than reducing decorativeness.
Spring spraying of maple against pests - maple weevil, mealybug, caterpillars, leaf beetle, bark beetle, whitefly, armyworm, marbled beetle and June beetle - is also very important for the full physiological processes of the tree. The fight can be carried out using both folk remedies, and with special drugs.
Some pests attack apparently healthy maples, while others “attack” weakened ones. Infection of a tree threatens to cause the leaves to fall and gradually dry out.
Trust the professionals to care for your maple plantings
In order for maple processing in the spring in the Moscow region to be effective, you need to entrust this task to professionals. The specialists of the Garden Processing company know theoretical basis control pests and diseases of trees and shrubs and successfully apply them in practice. The comprehensive service package that the company offers (it includes diagnosing the condition of plants, organizing their protection, care, pruning and shaping of fruit and ornamental trees, etc.) will help preserve green spaces for a long time from various kinds of troubles. This is where real professionals work, who will carry out everything quickly and efficiently. necessary measures for pest elimination.
