What are the common pest species on persimmon trees?
Pests are one of the things growers dislike most, yet they have no choice but to deal with them. This is especially true for persimmon trees, and their pests very easily occur on the fruit, leading to reduced yields. Pests such as scale insects are among the more common problems on persimmon trees, so what symptoms do these pests cause? And how should they be dealt with? Let's take a look below at these common pests together.
1. Persimmon scale insect
As one of the main pests of persimmon trees, the persimmon scale insect is a constant headache for persimmon growers. This pest very easily attaches to the persimmon, then densely covers the entire fruit and spreads. It mostly occurs in summer, and in more serious cases concentrates in September-October, feeding on the sap of the persimmon. In the early stage, some egg-like substances appear on the persimmon or on the branches and leaves, at low density; in the later stage they are distributed densely over the persimmon, so that from a distance it looks as if the fruit is covered with a layer of white protruding material interwoven with purplish-red material. Immediately prune off the affected parts and spray the persimmon tree with a wax scale insecticide solution for control.
2. Persimmon fruit borer
The persimmon fruit borer is a pest that is not easily noticed, because its early-stage larvae bore in from where the calyx joins the fruit and finally enter the fruit. The damage mostly occurs in August-September and mainly affects the ripe fruit. When you find that relatively nearby persimmons on the tree have turned waxy yellow, or differ greatly from other normally growing persimmons, and the tree frequently drops fruit, with the calyx area of the fallen fruit turning black and showing traces of the pest, then it is very likely the persimmon fruit borer. The key with this pest is early prevention, such as removing the thicker old bark areas, which are the most likely places for pest sources to remain. After the pest appears, insecticides such as fenitrothion can be used for treatment.
3. Persimmon leafhopper
The persimmon leafhopper is a pest that occurs rather frequently, mainly around May-June. It looks like a miniature cicada, yellow-white in color. This is one of the easier ones to spot, but because persimmon trees are fairly tall you still need to observe carefully. It usually attaches to the shaded parts of the persimmon tree's leaves, near the leaf veins. It is highly mobile and capable of flight, so it is not easy to catch; when it appears, it is generally recommended to control it directly with chemicals, and cypermethrin is an insecticide that can be used against it.
These three are basically the most common pests of persimmon trees, though they can differ depending on the region. In terms of pests, the main protective measure for persimmon growers is to eliminate the sources of the problem in advance. Prevention after each year's harvest must be done thoroughly; for related information you can follow our website.