Elm Leaf Beetle

The elm leaf beetle is a serious insect pest of elm trees in Northern Nevada and all of the intermounain west.

If not properly managed, they can nearly defoliate elm trees which makes them look bad in your landscape, and also affect tree health.

Deep watering and mulching is the best way to control populations of elm leaf beetles.

There are also systemic pesticide treatments that are highly effective, and should be applied once a year.

Due to new laws concerning pesticide use in Nevada, only a qualified, licensed pest control professional who is also an ISA Certified Arborist should make the applications.

Siberian elm and American elm trees infested with elm leaf beetles often suffer from other tree pests and disorders, and have an increased likelihood of branch failure that can be mitigated by pruning/trimming.

Visible damage to the leaves of elm trees caused by elm leaf beetles.

©Aspect Tree Care

Leaf damage from elm leaf beetles and staining caused by the bacterial infection known as Bacterial Wetwood.

©Aspect Tree Care

Skeletonized leaves caused by elm leaf beetle larvae.

©Aspect Tree Care

Adult elm leaf beetles chew holes in leaves.

A very badly skeletonized leaf caused by larval feeding.

Elms often have overextended branches that need to be reduced so leverage force is less likely to cause branch failure. It can be difficult to reach branch tips to perform this specialized type of pruning, but it is necessary to lower tree risk.

Before and after photos of pruning a Siberian elm in Reno to lower the likelihood of branch failure, also known as end weight reduction. We also pruned it to manage tree size, and provide clearance.