Whats eating the Lilac?

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sierramp Reno, NV Jul 25, 2005

Any ideas what is causing this damage and what I can do about it organically? Please excuse the lousy photo.

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bogman Cleveland, OH Jul 26, 2005

looks to me like leaf cutter bees. they are beneficial insects and only take the margins of the leaves to make nests...I live with the damage because the plant is not seriously harmed, and they are very beneficial pollinators.

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Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Jul 26, 2005

I have cutter bees in my yard though they have only bothered the ash. They make little nests out of the leaf pieces they cut. They are not considered pests and shouldn't hurt your lilac, if that is what it is. The bees in my garden are HUGE. Which is why I first noticed them then the leaves.

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sierramp Reno, NV Jul 31, 2005

I have seen a lot of bees recently so leaf-cutter bees made sense. Then a neighbor said it was root weevils. I went out at night with my flashlight and camera and found this! Don't know how I'm going to keep them out of the lilacs though.

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Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Aug 02, 2005

Here's an image of damage from a leaf cutter bee. The damage is larger with a more circular pattern than yours.

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sierramp Reno, NV Aug 02, 2005

Mobi, thank you for the interesting comparison photo. If I had bees I'd just leave the lilacs alone. I don't see much reason to leave the weevils alone though. I wonder whether a biodegradable soap mixed with water and sprayed with a hand sprayer would at least discourage them somewhat. I think I'll start a thread regarding root weevils to ask this question. Do your bees come back every year Mobi and bogman?

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Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Aug 02, 2005

I lived in this house for about six years and this is the first I've noticed them. But then this is the first year we haven't had drought, so I don't know if they will be here next year.

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