Mystery Bubbles or Eggs!

Ian_Homer

Hi All,

Here is a new one on me.

This weekend I noticed just two of my trees, some way apart, have their soil surface covered in loads of tiny bubbles or eggs. They are reddish and about 1- 2mm in diameter.

We have had heavy rainfall in the last few weeks and suspect it maybe associated with drainage or the attack of some soil bound pest.

I've isolated the trees for now and aerated the soil with a wire in several places, just to ensure adequate ventilation to the roots. The trees affected are Oak and Beech, in a fairly free draining mix, based on our wet summers of late.

Anyone come across this before and any pointers?

Thanks,
Ian.

Attached Images

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Joanie

Whatever they are, they don't look good. Will they rinse off the soil surface or come off if you scrape them?

Joanie

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Ian_Homer

Hi Joanie,

Yes, they will.

That will be my task tonight, well away from anything else at the bottom of the Garden.

Well before they hatch!!

Intrigued, I have never seen anything like it before. I suspect it came in on an Oak or Elm I purchased last year. I always quarantine for a month or so any new purchase, but this seems to be something that was in the soil.

Already treating with an insecticide on a weekly basis to kill the blighters.

Thanks,
Ian.

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rowan57

Hmm those are odd, have you seen any miniature sheep recently? They do smack of something to do with drainage, i've seen all sorts of things growing on wet soil. It does look like eggs for a small creature of some kind, maybe as harmless as gnat type things but ya never know.

It sounds like you've got a good plan of action, scrape them all off and keep an eye on the trees to see if they return

Hope they go away
Rowan

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Happy Gilmore

No idea what they are but you may just be able to 'float' them off your soil surface by submerging pot briefly in a tub etc.....and hosing water surface to wash away water surface 'eggs-debris'.

Ian_Homer

Hi H.G.

Yes, I did jet blast the offending items off, using the "flat" version on a mult-head spray lance. I thought of submerging, but given we have had so much rain in the last few weeks, I did not want to get the soil too sodden at this time of year when they are slowing down and losing leaves.

Will be keeping a close eye on all pots for a re-occurance - just in case it was wider spread than first indications show.

Thanks,
Ian.

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BenTaylor

Hi,

This is my first post (and unfortunately asking for advice already!). I have a Chinese Elm, and I've just discovered exactly the same thing on the soil of my tree.

I had to go away been away for about a week, and the person I left in charge of watering didn't do a very good job - so my tree dried out quit a bit. I've been nursing it back to health, and I think it'll be OK now, but these 'egg' type things are new and a little worrying.

Did you ever find out what they are or how to treat them?

Many thanks,

Ben.

Ian_Homer

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the forum and great that you have obviously been looking around or using the "search" facility already.
There is SO much information on this site.

Sadly, we never did get to the bottom of the mystery, which I think is more likely insect related.

However, after washing off with a "firmish" spray of water in a remote corner of the garden over the space of a couple of days.... I never saw any more of them. Thankfully they have not returned since.

Try the same now with that elm and keep just moist in a shady/sheltered spot for another good 2 weeks to help it recover from the loss of moisture while you were away.
It could most likely have been the high winds we've been getting of late.... since small pots will dry out in no time at all, even if your friend was watering on a daily basis.

Hopefully, you have caught it in time.

All the best,
Ian.

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cbobgo

that kinda looks like earthworm castings, to me. What are they like when you squish them?

- bob

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