vlo2434
I'll Have the Salad
This Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is afflicted with Leaf Curl, also known as Leaf Blister. Notice the small bumps on the leaf and discoloration of these bumps. This infamous disease affects oaks, but primarily peach and plum trees. Though not life threatening for the tree, it does disfigure the leaves and fruits causing bumps along the leaf (or fruit) with discoloration ranging from pale green, red or purple. This is caused by a fungus, (Taphrina deformans), which remains dormant in the Autumn and Winter, once early Spring comes around it waits for favorable condition such as rainfall and cool temperatures. During the Winter, spores cling to the branches or ends of twigs, once conditions are suitable these spores afflict leaf buds, and as the leaf matures symptoms present themselves. (“Oak Leaf Blister and Peach Leaf Curl’’)
Another noticeable disfiguration of this leaf is the many holes, possibly a large meal for a little Catalpa Sphynx caterpillar. This caterpillar grows into a Catalpa Sphynx Moth that’s native through Florida to New York. Its diet mostly consists of the Catalpa itself, a large mass of caterpillars may even strip most of the tree bare. (“The Catalpa Sphynx”) Lastly, this picture was taken at the Onslow Pine Park, on May 27th, 2018.
Reference:
granville.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/05/oak-leaf-blister-and-peach...
www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/catalpasph...
I'll Have the Salad
This Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is afflicted with Leaf Curl, also known as Leaf Blister. Notice the small bumps on the leaf and discoloration of these bumps. This infamous disease affects oaks, but primarily peach and plum trees. Though not life threatening for the tree, it does disfigure the leaves and fruits causing bumps along the leaf (or fruit) with discoloration ranging from pale green, red or purple. This is caused by a fungus, (Taphrina deformans), which remains dormant in the Autumn and Winter, once early Spring comes around it waits for favorable condition such as rainfall and cool temperatures. During the Winter, spores cling to the branches or ends of twigs, once conditions are suitable these spores afflict leaf buds, and as the leaf matures symptoms present themselves. (“Oak Leaf Blister and Peach Leaf Curl’’)
Another noticeable disfiguration of this leaf is the many holes, possibly a large meal for a little Catalpa Sphynx caterpillar. This caterpillar grows into a Catalpa Sphynx Moth that’s native through Florida to New York. Its diet mostly consists of the Catalpa itself, a large mass of caterpillars may even strip most of the tree bare. (“The Catalpa Sphynx”) Lastly, this picture was taken at the Onslow Pine Park, on May 27th, 2018.
Reference:
granville.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/05/oak-leaf-blister-and-peach...
www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/catalpasph...