Leaf Eating Native Bees & ?

[Tamnewbie]

Have been having trouble with these little critters making their perfect little half circles in one of my Tridents and a Zelcover. I don't necessarily want to kill them, but how do i get rid of them?? Also just this morning have discovered VERY TINY white "spots" on my Japanese. Maple clump (all new leaves decimated), my fig and one Chinese Elm (no damage to then as yet). When I touched a leaf...they flew away!!! Never seen anything so tiny flying! Any ideas of what they could be and what to use to get rid of them please. Thanks in advance

[Pierre]

Hi Tam,

I have the same problem with those perfect half circles eaten leaves but it's on a Jaboticaba but not on my maples or liquidambar... was wondering what it was... are you talking about the tiny black bees?
Cheers,Pierre

[shibui]

The half circles cut out of leaves is the leaf cutter bee. Your description of perfect little half circles is very apt. They almost always produce very neat cuts. These are native bees (stingless) and they are taking the pieces of leaf away to make a nest for their larvae but they are solitary (just 1 female working alone on a nest just for her eggs) so they do not produce honey.http://www.aussiebee.com.au/leafcutter_bee.html
I'd be reluctant to kill them off, just because they are fascinating native insects. The few bits of leaf they take might be a bit unsightly but won't usually harm the tree in the long term.

The tiny white flying dots are probably whitefly. both young and adults suck sap from the leaves and can sometimes cause damage if the numbers are high. They do not seem to like water so hose them off with a spray a couple of times a day can reduce numbers a bit. They are attracted to yellow so you can get sticky yellow traps to catch them. Most insecticides will reduce the numbers but they do hatch out very quickly and numbers will build up again after the first spray and may need to treat again. Try Natrasoap, or eco-oil for low toxic solution. Confidor is more toxic and will kill them. Confidor will also kill the leafcutter bees and probably all the good bugs like ladybirds and honeybees in your garden as well.

[Pierre]

Thanks Shibui for the information. I will definitely leave them doing their beesness

[Tamnewbie]

Thank you Shibui, Will leave the little mother bees to do their nesting. And will get some sticky traps for the little white guys or some Natrasoap or Eco oil. Thank you again.

Glad my question helped you too Pardb.