Ants
The most common insect you’ll see on an avocado tree is the ant, which is interesting because ants don’t feed on the avocado tree directly. The ant feeds on honeydew which is secreted by several insects, which makes them both a blessing and a curse. They’re a blessing because seeing ants is an indicator that there is another pest issue. A curse because the ants can often interrupt the biological controls that might otherwise thwart the offending insect. Get rid of ants by first pruning all lower limbs up to a height of no lower than 2 feet from the ground. Then apply a wide band of sticky material around the base of the tree trunk. This will interrupt the ant’s ability to get into the tree allowing you to manage the other pests undeterred.
Mealybugs
If you see honeydew on your leaves, especially in combination with a sooty mold, mealybugs may be the cause. Mealybugs are terribly destructive. They suck out the juices of a plant through the leaves, stunting its growth tremendously and even causing the eventual death of the tree in severe cases. Ants are usually present with mealybugs, but once the ants are controlled, natural enemies like birds and ladybird beetles will usually manage the infestation quickly. Minor infestations can be managed by hand picking or dabbing with rubbing alcohol. Bigger infestations can be managed with a strong spray of water and the application of an insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Slugs & Snails
Slugs and snails are annoying in the avocado trees, but the good news is that they only strike when it is cool and damp, usually at night. They attack leaves and fruit. They are easily located and picked off if you are around at the right time, usually after dark and early in the morning. Shallow plates can be placed at the base of the trees and filled with beer. The snails and slugs can’t resist the fermented liquid and will drink themselves to death. If you find your significant other face down underneath the tree, that’s another story.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
A large ant pile is on the ground next to tree. If I put ant poison on them will it hurt the tree or the fruit?
I recommend Terro Ant Baits – it will not hurt any of the plants.
Check out these articles to help you with ants:
http://urbanfig.com/4-most-common-garden-pests-and-what-to-do-about-them/
http://urbanfig.com/ants-and-aphids-part-iii/
http://urbanfig.com/battling-aphids-ants-part-ii/
Was concern, they were after the hummingbird feeder.
Was concern since hummingbird feeder hangs from tree. Now ants crawling around.
My newly planted (10 months ago) avocado tree leaves are being eaten and I do not see any pests or insects on them. How do I treat what I dont see???
Mike
How big are the holes ? It’s hard to say without seeing it. Bring a leaf to your local nursery and they can help you, just make sure you use an organic solution. Best of luck! Avocado trees rock.
SAME problem here with the tree I planted last year. I just treated mine a few days ago with a good dusting of BT powder on the leaves and around the ground area from the trunk to the drip zone. ~ I will later apply a wet spray of Safer Soap as a follow-up.
I have leaves that are eaten along the edges and also many with brown areas on them thus it seems that there is more than one pest that is causing the problem!
Good luck with yours, my friend!
My tree is being eaten from the bottom of the stem it looks like it’s being shaved or pealed at the bottom of the soil up what do you thing it is
I’m not really sure, can you post a photo?
Mine is doing the same for the fist time today I see tine bugs crawling on it. I keep it potted in the screen patio. I am going to put it outside now because of the bugs. Very frustrating this is the 5th one I tried to grow, I end up throwing them away because of bugs.
Sometimes pests will arrive if there is either too much or too little as well as sunlight. Do you think it is in the correct spot for it to thrive? Most avocado trees do better in the ground. I haven’t had much luck myself with avocado trees in pots.
I am having ant problem on ground too, but they are fire ants. I don’t know that Terro is going to take care of that, will it??
It should work
We planted an avocado tree we’ve had in a in a pot for a couple of years. Finally moved to a house with a yard and planted about 9 months ago. It grew right away and was looking beautiful. About a month ago we noticed a part of the trunk near the ground was missing. This week almost all the leaves are shriveled up and the trunk/bark looks as if it’s been eaten near the ground.
Interesting…. do you think an animal got to it? I’m not sure without seeing a photo what it could be. Your local nursery may know of any diseases it could have gotten, but sounds like an animal to me. Thanks for writing in.
Hi,
I have an avocado tree grown from a seed. It took a long time to root it but now it’s about two feet high with lovely large leaves. Problem is something, maybe flies??, are eating the leaves from the outside of the leaf inward. I’ve never seen a crawling bug on the leaves and it seems to happen right after I water it. I’ll water in the morning and by night there are several leaves with damage. Only thing I’ve ever noticed on the leaves are the occasional fly. I’ve watched them and they have their “tongue”?? on it, not moving, just on it. Maybe sucking and dissolving the leaf, not sure, just speculation.Pls.help!
try a gentle insecticidal soap – 1 cup of oil, 2 cups water and 1 or 2 TBSP Dr. Bronner’s soap together and spray on
Hi my avocado is losing its leaves: the leaves are turning brown and falling off and my brother found a slug on it
my haus avocado tree which is about 6′ tall looks yellowich & the edges on the leaves are very dry . It has not given me any fruit but it does get full of blooms . I have a bacon avocado which does look very healthy & is full of blooms right now & it is next to the hass & I don’t want it to get sick . I also have a huge Mexicola dark skin when ready to be picked but I do not want it to get sick cause it give me hundreds of avocados . It is about 8 years old .
thank you for whatever info you can give me regarding my problem .
Avocado leaves do dry up seasonally. Best to bring the leaf to the nursery and see what they say. It’s hard to know without a photo
Our avocados were slightly damaged by hail a few months back. Now there are white mealy bugs on the fruit. How should we treat them?
Spray with an insecticidal soap – you can make your own with 1 cup of oil, warm water and 2 tablespoons of soap like Dr. Bronners. Spray on the leaves. you can also try hosing off the pests first and then see if you need to use the soap.
For the last 3 years my avocados (I have 2 trees) bud and then something eats all the buds. I don’t ever see any bugs of any kind on the tree, so what do you think might be eating them and what should I do?
Thanks!
Dee
It’s hard to say without a photo. If you are getting avocados, it may not be an issue. Take the blooms to your local nursery and see what they say.
I have a 5 year old avocado tree, it is about 10 feet tall, all of the blooms have been eaten off I had one avocado and it is still growing on the tree. Can you recommend a spray or something to help me. Thank you for doing this service.
try fertilizing it and see how it goes
Ive grown an avocado from the stone in a fruit from Tesco. It’s in a pot an got to about 50cm high, the leaves seem to get eaten from the inside
I HAVE AN AVACADO TREE WHICH IS 3 YEARS OLD AND STARTED FLOWERING HEAVILY 2 MONTHS BACK. MOST OF THE FLOWERS HAVE DRIED AND FALLEN DOWN. FEW FLOWERS HAVE TURNED INTO AVACADOS. RECENTLY I WITNESS CLUSTER OF WHITE FLIES GROUP BEHIND LEAVES. IS IT GOOD OR BAD. PLEASE SUGGEST REMEDY FOR THIS.
TAHNKS
You can use an organic insecticidal soap for the white flies.
I have a serious problem of bugs eating the leaves of my avocado trees which powerful insecticide or pesticide can i use ? Thank you
Dr. Earth sprays, Neem Oil if it’s a serious problem but this is a very strong organic pesticide or a general organic fruit tree spray that you can find at your local nursery. Good luck!