- Sap-sucking insects cluster on the leaves and sometimes on the stems and branches of mulberry trees. These insects suck the juices of the leaves, causing them to turn brown in spots. Severe infestations can cause the leaves, flower buds and fruit to die or suffer from stunted or deformed growth. These insects include armored scales, which cling to twigs and leaf petioles. These small, round bugs have hard shells that protect them from some insecticides, making them difficult to eliminate. Fortunately, mulberry trees are rarely damaged by these insects, according to the University of California's Pest Management website. Mealybugs are another sap-sucking insect that plague mulberry trees. These tiny, white, fluffy-looking insects produce honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts fungal spores. The fungi stick to and reproduce on the leaves, coating the tree with a thin layer of what looks like soot.
- Insects that feed on the foliage of a mulberry tree often leave small holes in the leaves, along with trails and ragged edges. In some cases, the entire leaf may be consumed. Large infestations may even defoliate small trees. The fall webworm is the most serious of the foliage feeding insect pests. These caterpillars leave a trail of white webbing behind them and can consume an entire leaf, leaving only the skeleton of the leaf's veins behind. Glassy-winged sharpshooters are leafhoppers that do not directly damage mulberries; however, they carry a bacteria that causes mulberry leaf scorch, a serious disease that can kill the tree. As the insect feeds on the leaves, it transfers the bacteria from its mouth to the plant.
- Root nematodes live in the soil and affect the roots of the tree. These round, microscopic bugs feed on the roots, causing galls to form and damaging or even killing the root hairs responsible for absorbing water and nutrients. Mulberry trees infested with root nematodes may show overall wilting, stunted growth and even death, although this is rare in woody plants.
- Prune away infested parts of the tree if the bugs are limited to just one area and dispose of the damaged branches to prevent the insects from spreading. Insecticides, applied as soon as bug activity is noticed, can also prevent severe damage, especially in small, young trees. Repeated applications may be necessary. Nematodes are difficult to get rid of once they are present in the soil. The best treatment is prevention. Avoid planting mulberry trees in soil where nematodes are present. Solarization and fallowing (leaving the soil unplanted for a year) can lower populations of nematodes enough to grow annual crops only.
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