bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Help please! White, maggot-like worms have infested Juniper

It sounds like two pests in one here. I agree with Ian that the 'maggots' sound like vine wevil grubs. they live in the soil and munch away at the roots until they are big enough to pupate and leave as adults. This munching of the roots would cause them to rot as you described and would affect the upper plant due to a lack of nutrients and water. Rotting roots also use up the oxygen in the soil, another bad thing for your tree.

The webbing you describe is most likely not caused by the grubs (who live below the soil surface) but there is a multitude of pests which do this; spider mites being one of them. Hopefully somebody will be able to help further.

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

21-Jun-2006	#5
Alasdair bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Aug-2004 Location: Aberystwyth Uni Country: Wales USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 0-1 Posts: 1,101	It sounds like two pests in one here. I agree with Ian that the 'maggots' sound like vine wevil grubs. they live in the soil and munch away at the roots until they are big enough to pupate and leave as adults. This munching of the roots would cause them to rot as you described and would affect the upper plant due to a lack of nutrients and water. Rotting roots also use up the oxygen in the soil, another bad thing for your tree. The webbing you describe is most likely not caused by the grubs (who live below the soil surface) but there is a multitude of pests which do this; spider mites being one of them. Hopefully somebody will be able to help further. Al __________________ I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on... Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth