Hazel shrubs are relatively easy to grow, but they can be attacked by numerouspests damaging the leaves, shoots and fruits of hazel , i.e. hazelnuts. Here are descriptions ofof the most common pests of hazel , such as aphids, spider mites and the sunflower beetle, and methodsto protect the hazel from pestsattacking this plant.
The squirrel is a pest of hazel. However, this rodent is completely protected, so we cannot fight it in the garden
If we have a plot in a forest area, squirrels, eagerly eating nuts, can come to our garden along with hazel.However, it is difficult to treatsquirrels as pests of hazel , as they are very popular animals. In Poland, squirrels are completely protected, so the only thing left to do is be happy that such guests visit our garden, and by cultivating hazel, we can help them gather supplies to survive the winter and enjoy the opportunity to observe these animals.
Among theharmful insects that feed on hazel ,sunflower(Curculio nucum) is considered the most destructive. It is a beetle with a characteristic, very long snout. Adult beetles feed from spring to summer in the buds and on the leaves of the hazel. In ripening nuts, female beetles lay eggs. The larvae that hatch from them develop inside the nuts, eating their contents, and the nuts do not fully develop. Mature larvae leave the nuts, leaving a hole in the shell of the nuts, and then descend into the soil, where they overwinter and pupate.Damaged hazelnuts cannot be eaten.
The sunflower is a nuisance pest of hazel
Spraying against this pest of hazelis performed in the spring, when beetles are feeding on the leaves, before they can lay eggs. One of the following preparations can be used for spraying: Decis 2.5 EC, Fastac 100 EC, Calypso 480 EC or the ready-to-use Spruzit Spray against AL pests. However, it should be remembered that the spraying efficiency is sometimes limited, as they only fight adult beetles feeding on the plant. Meanwhile, their larvae can stay in the soil for up to two years and the beetles may reappear in the following year. Therefore, as a rule, spraying should be repeated annually.
Sunflower larvae eat the inside of the nuts, leaving their waste in them. The symptom visible on the outside is a hole left by the exiting larva
Anotherbeetle that feeds on the hazel is the yellow hazel(H altica brevicollis). The beetles start feeding in spring - at the turn of April and May, in the buds and developing leaves. The result of their existence are numerous, irregular holes gouged in the leaves of hazel. During this time, the females lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves, and at the turn of spring and summer, the larvae hatch from these eggs. They can strip the leaves much more, of which sometimes only the innervation remains. In July, the larvae descend into the soil, where they pupate, and from August we can observe the next generation of beetles. In order to prevent the leaves from being stripped off by the black walrus hazel, after noticing the symptoms of the presence of beetles or their larvae, in amateur cultivation conditions, spray one of the preparations listed above for combating the sunflower.
Hazel can also be fed by the spotted hazel(Phytoptus avellanae), causing the leaf buds to grow larger and wither.In order to reduceoccurrence of this pest of hazel , remove buds attacked in autumn in the spring, before the flowering of the bushes. Then we will remove them along with the pests, not allowing the spies to leave the buds and cause further damage to the plants. If diseased buds cannot be removed, Karate Zeon 050 CS should be sprayed in April, while the bristles leave the buds and spread to the leaves.
The large hazel hazelnut damages the leaf buds, causing them to swell and dry up
Anotherhazel pest is the hazel spider mite(Eotetranyus coryli), causing yellowish, and over time browning, spots on the leaves limited by veins. After noticing the first symptoms of the presence of spider mites, perform two sprayings, 7-10 days apart, with the spider mite preparation. In this case, you can also use Karate Zeon 050 CS.
In recent years, more and more oftenin hazel is also the cup of the plum tree(Parthenolecanium corni), probably better known as the pest of plums. Unfortunately, it is also a pest of hazel. By feeding on the hazel shoots, the plum bowl causes the leaves to dry out and the shoot growth to be inhibited. Additionally, the leaves may be covered with sticky honeydew secreted by the larvae of the cup. The best termfor fighting this pest on hazelis the fall / winter period when there are no leaves on the bushes. On the day when the air temperature is 12-15 ° C, spray with an oil, eg Promanal 60 EC or Emulpar 940 EC. In this way, we will quite effectively destroy the wintering stage of the pest and avoid the need for chemical protection during the growing season. If we have abandoned this treatment, then in the period from the end of June to mid-July (when the larvae of the first stage are feeding) the hazel can be sprayed with a convenient, ready-to-use preparation in the Provado Plus AE spray.Bulldock 025EC and Fastac 100 EC are also suitable for combating the plum tree cup.
Like many other plants, common hazel can also be attacked by aphids.Hazelnut aphid(Myzocallis coryli) is a bug which is especially numerouson hazel leaveson the underside. Aphids suck the sap from plants, causing numerous deformations of the leaves and inhibiting the growth of shrubs. During feeding, they also secrete a viscous liquid (the so-called honey dew), contributing to the formation of a black coating on hazel leaves and shoots. To combat aphids on hazel, you can use one of the aforementioned preparations: Provado Plus AE or Fastac 100 EC. People who avoid the use of chemical plant protection products, in the fight against aphids, can use the natural preparation based on natural ingredients, Agrocover.
