The boxwood leaf flea is widespread and mainly affects young shoots. We have tips for you on how to deal with the voracious larvae.
Box trees are an ornament in every outdoor area, prove to be easy to care for and delight with their lush green leaves all year round. An infestation with the boxwood leaf flea can cause lasting damage to the plants. Rapid intervention is required. The pest is widespread and it is therefore important to take appropriate preventive measures.
Detailed description and special features
The boxwood leaf flea (Psylla buxi) occurs almost everywhere in Europe. It is an almost four millimeter large and greenish colored pest. Characteristic are the strong jumping legs and the pairs of wings, which make it easier for the boxwood flea to advance on the plants.
The actual danger does not come from the adult fleas. It is necessary to take action against the voracious larvae. These are flat and yellow-green in color. The black antennae tips are also a clear identification mark. The larvae have a proboscis and feed on the leaf sap of the boxwood.
The beech leaf flea attacks the tender shoots of the plant in spring. Egg laying takes place in summer. The brood overwinters under a dense web of waxy threads and hatches the following spring.
The filigree wings of the vermin act like a natural roof that stretches over the fleas' backs. Visually, the boxwood fleas are reminiscent of cicadas. However, there is no direct relationship.
With gall midges, bugs, ladybirds and spiders, boxwood fleas have a number of natural predators. However, these cannot harm the pests because they surround themselves with a protective layer of waxy wool.
Detect Signs of Infestation
The first signs of an infestation are usually noticeable on the tips of the young shoots. Regular checking of the shoot tips ensures early detection of pest infestation.
The infestation is easy to localize. The leaves curve up or down and are reminiscent of spoons in shape. On closer inspection, thewhitish excretions of the pests visible. These form a cotton-like film on the leaf surface. Boxwood fleas also excrete sticky honeydew. This promotes the colonization of sooty mold fungi.
In the case of increased infestation, the appearance of the plant suffers and growth disorders occur.
Control measures
Anyone who has noticed the pest on their boxwood should act immediately. The winged lice move quickly and can quickly infest entire boxwood hedges.
There are different ways to fight:
- cutting measures
- Home remedies
- Pesticides
Cutting boxwood
The simplest and environmentally friendly measure is an additional cut of the affected plant. The eggs are laid in midsummer. Anyone who discovers fleas and clutches should cut back the affected shoots thoroughly.
Tip: Since the boxwood loses its shape through the cut, a second shape cut is advisable.
The removed shoots do not belong in the compost. Dispose of the trimmings in the dustbin or burn them in the garden.
Use home remedies
In the case of a stronger infestation, chemical preparations should not be used prematurely. Soapy water has proven to be an effective home remedy.
The home remedy is very easy to make yourself:
1. Use soft soap or small pieces of soap
2. Dissolve soap in warm water
3. Let the lye cool down
4. Put the lye on a sponge
5. Put the leaves of the boxwood with it rub off
Make sure that the soap dissolves completely in the water. This succeeds if you use warm water.
Hint: Soapsuds can be made from small soap scraps, which can be collected for this purpose.
The procedure is a bit time consuming. The leaves must be rubbed individually with the liquid. The sponge must be cleaned thoroughly after each treatment so that the larvae do not spread over the leaves again the next time.
Use pesticides
If a massive infestation is observed and the boxwood flea has taken over entire hedges, professional pesticides should be used. However, there are no commercially available products specially made for the boxwood leaf flea. The hobby gardener has to limit himself to products that are suitable for general useControl of insects are provided.
The available insecticides contain the following active ingredients:
- Pyrethrins
- acetamipride
- Azadirachtin
- rapeseed oil
Insecticides don't just fight boxwood leaf fleas. They also harm domestic beneficial insects in the garden. The use of chemical pest control should therefore be used with caution and only as a last resort.
In general, it is pointed out that chemical control of the boxwood leaf flea is not necessary and that the natural alternatives are reliable.
Prevent infestation with boxwood flea beetle
As a widespread pest, the boxwood leaf flea is difficult to prevent. The pests also settle on strong and he althy plants. The choice of location and the composition of the substrate ultimately have little influence on a possible infestation.
Careful pruning in autumn should not be neglected as a preventive measure. This allows the insects and their larvae to be reliably eliminated before winter.
Regular checking of the boxwood plants ensures that a possible infestation is detected in good time and that the measures described here can be initiated as quickly as possible to prevent the boxwood leaf flea from spreading.
Tip: The Ilex Robustoco ® is far less susceptible to pests.