Critter building nests on bottlebrush

[Paul W]

Hi Fellow Bonsai Nutters out there. !!!!!!!!
I have just been pruning a one of my bottle brushes up and have noticed that some sought of critter is building about 6 nests in the foliage and it looks like some sought of spider type web material and dead leaves, cannot see see any live critters about.
Does anyone have any idea what it is and how to treat it,I have just pulled them out at the moment but will they return.
Any comments would be appreciated thanks.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Fellow Bonsai Nutters out there. !!!!!!!!
I have just been pruning a one of my bottle brushes up and have noticed that some sought of critter is building about 6 nests in the foliage and it looks like some sought of spider type web material and dead leaves, cannot see see any live critters about.
Does anyone have any idea what it is and how to treat it,I have just pulled them out at the moment but will they return.
Any comments would be appreciated thanks.

Its usually a caterpillar of some sort that gathers the foliage into a cocoon around itself. Just remove by hand and clean out.

You could still do a light trim for shape/density which will make it harder to recolonise.

Grant

[shibui]

That will probably be Tea Tree Webbing Caterpillar - Orthaga thyrsalis. The grubs will be hiding in the webs if they are still there but often, by the time you notice the webs they have already grown up and made cocoons. Some of them drop onto the ground when they feel threatened so, again, you don't see them when you search.
Apart from squashing them, anything that will kill caterpillars will treat these guys. B.T. - sold as 'dipel' is a very safe caterpillar killer. It is actually a fungus that can only attack caterpillars so will not hurt you, dogs, ladybirds, etc. Pyrethrum sprays will also kill them but you do need to get it onto them which is a bit hard because they are hiding so well.
Systemics are a bit more harmful but are effective because anything that eats any part of a sprayed tree will die.

[Paul W]

Thanks Fella's sounds like the little bugger,I think they have moved on as I don't see any type of critter
Grant you missed a good market day yesterday,numbers were up and a really good day weather wise.

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks Fella's sounds like the little bugger,I think they have moved on as I don't see any type of critter
Grant you missed a good market day yesterday,numbers were up and a really good day weather wise.

Next year for sure. I had a major commitment yesterday at the club, repotting numerous black pines for my students in the advanced pine workshops I am doing in conjunction with CBS.

Grant

[Mick B]

IT IS WEBBING CATERPILLAR, LOTS OF TREATMENTS, CRUSH BY HAND AND REMOVE WORKS

[Pup]

Strong Water jet also works well.

Pup