- Massive invasion of Berlin's chestnut trees by chestnut mining moths
Brown leaf decor on city streets: The chestnut bark beetle has left its mark on Berlin's horse chestnut trees. Derk Ehlert, a city nature expert, told the German Press Agency, "Almost all trees are affected. It seems worse than ever this year, but it's not." The pests are advancing their life cycle about two to three weeks earlier due to the warmth and drought, explained Ehlert.
The larvae feed on the leaves, putting the trees under strain. "Chestnut trees don't die due to a miner beetle infestation," says Ehlert. However, if the trees are already weakened by other factors, they might die following an infestation.
Pick up autumn leaves and install birdhouses
Ehlert stresses the importance of continuously removing leaves until spring to control the infestation. The new generation also resides in fallen leaves and migrates to the tree after hatching. "The fewer eggs and larvae in the leaves, the less a tree will be affected in the next spring," Ehlert points out. Birdhouses are another natural method to fight the beetle. Birds consume the beetles. In certain cases, pheromone traps can also be effective, according to Ehlert.
The Plant Protection Office reports that the chestnut bark beetle was first spotted in Berlin in 1997 and has been present throughout the city since 2002. It originates from the Balkans. The damage caused by the chestnut bark beetle results in 'mines' in the leaves, which at first appear light green, then turn brown, curl up, and fall off prematurely.
The German Press Agency shared Derk Ehlert's advice on controlling the chestnut bark beetle infestation, suggesting the removal of leaves until spring. Ehlter also mentioned that birdhouses can aid in reducing the beetle population, as birds are natural predators of the chestnut bark beetle.
