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Blue Fox Willow
Salic Brachycarpa
51.7914, -114.09
Field Notes
Description:
This Blue Fox Willow is in decline. There are two branches that are dying back from, what I suspect to be, the young poplar and willow borer larvae (cryptorhynchus lapathi). It is the time of year where the larvae begins to bore tunnels into the wood of the Willow where they will stay throughout winter. The branches may become weak and break by the base of the plant with high winds or snow cover.
Habitat:
This Blue Fox Willow is located in the Arboretum West garden of the Wetlands on Olds College Campus. There is an adequate amount of mulch in the bed. A grouping of two Willows alongside several Larch trees and Roses. The Willows are west facing, getting a lot of afternoon sunlight.
Notes:
Every stage of the bug, from egg to adult, are fairly immune to insecticides. You can try spraying chemical on to the stems of the plant when adults are active to avoid new hatchlings of larvae. There are also conventional pesticides, one being systemic (and likely the most effective) that can be used on larger Willow trees. But in a Willow shrub, these systemic injections would be difficult to treat the entirety of the plant.
Some die back will happen stem by stem, this can be pruned out for temporary aesthetic. But with how tough these pests are, you may need to cut the entirety of the plant to grade by June in order to prevent further infestation. New shoots may grow, but ultimately, the mortality risk is very high once infested.
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