Ficus - Borer Pest

Loki

Hello all,

Just found this site - looks great and very helpful, will certainly be a regular visitor.

Anyway, as my fist "contribution" to the site, I throw a plea for help to everyone.

Firstly, a little background....

A friend's husband received a ficus bonsai as a present about, oh, maybe 8-10 mths ago. From rim of pot, it was about 2+ feet high. About 6-8 weeks ago, my friend called to say that the tree was looking really ill, she didn't really know how to look after it and rather than let it die, would I take it in and do what I could? Naturally I said yes.

When I collected it, it was obviously underwatered, and in a very sad state. I assumed that was the reason that several branches had died. The leaves also looked a little strange, but I figured I'd try watering it heaps first and see if that made any difference.

Unfortunately, regular watering did not seem to stop the slow death. Then - just today - I noticed what seems like "sawdust" around the roots at the back of the tree. On closer inspection, I noticed several holes into two roots in particular. When I poked these roots, they collapsed - they are eaten out from the inside. It resembles white ant damage (if that's a common term... sorry, I'm Australian).

Anyway, as I am actually living in South Korea at the moment, and might not be able to convey accurately my problem to the nursery, I was wondering if anyone can indentify, from this simple explanation, what pest it might be and what (if any) measures I can take to save the tree? If I know a certain chemical's name, I might be able to translate and find it in a shop, but I can just see me stumbling through trying to explain this in Korean, to some no doubt very-well-meaning, Korean.

Also.... I have other trees nearby, although not touching... how far apart should I "quarantine" this infected tree?

I am kicking myself for not picking this up earlier - the leaf irregularities should have told me it was more than just underwatering... I hope I am not too late....


Oh, and I have photos, but am not sure how or even if I can link/post them here... will do some reading of FAQs now...

Any and all advice sincerely appreciated!!!! (Please?!?!)

Cheers!

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TreeBay

Are you talking about termites as white ants? Lindane is a common remedy. They'd usually be limited to moving through the soil and affected wood, unless they're swarming, so if the benches are structurally sound, a couple of feet should be fine as a safe distance.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately if you are a borer) lindane appears to have been banned in Korea. Still, if that's the case, maybe they are familiar with it and can suggest something else.

http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Pn35/pn35p9b.htm

Regards,

Matt

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Loki

Hi Matt - thanks heaps for the reply.

Yes, sorry - termites would be a more common term, wouldn't it.

Will look into Lindane and see if I can find an alternative available here in Korea. Gotta get the little so-and-sos!!!

Others - any further advice/tips welcome.

Thanks and cheers!

Edit: A question.... Do termites attack "live" wood? I had it in my head that they only liked timber, ie "dead" wood... I was assuming this was another borer... although I'm not sure if that makes any difference to the treatment... hmmmm....

TreeBay

It probably would not make a lot of difference in terms of how you'd treat it. I've used a syringe to force the insecticide into the channels themselves.

From what I've seen termites eat the softest wood first. That could be the pulpwood - which ordinarily would be actively transporting water upwards to distribute throughout the plant. Or, it could be rotting heartwood.

Regards,

Matt

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Moni

But termites are not hard to see. So, I guess it could be some kind of borer. There are so many different kinds that I cannot begin to guess which ones. I think I might try first giving the tree a good long soak, just to get anything in the soil to come up for air. Then I might try to find all of the holes and stick a thin wire into them and wiggle the wire around a bit. That would help kill whatever is tunneling those holes. But I have to add that insects usually destroy what has already been weakened. You can often get borers in a healthy tree but the free running sap, etc. usually helps to protect that tree. And that is for "normal" trees growing in the ground. Bonsai tends to put some trees under stress, anyway. Just thinking out loud here. At least with bonsai, the trees are small enough where the wire method is not prohibitive. Give it a try.
Moni