LAURAL TREE PROBLEM

I have a very old Laural Tree which was in the Garden when I moved here.

Last year and now this year at this time of the year every morning there is a lot of fine sawdust at the bottom of the tree.

It seems that an insect of some sort is doing this.

Any sugestions as to what this can be.

Maurice

 

No idea Maurice, but I have loads of laural, you can cut them well back and they come again. sawdust does sound like a big insect.

Just guessing but if you think it is an insect you could spray, if a mammel like squirel ..... no just a mystery.

If there is sawdust, it must be comming from somewhere, how about painting it with chilli paste - only a wild guess.

Hopefully someone else will have some idea???

 

I am sure it is an insect of some sought as where a large branch had been cut off there was quite large bore holes there.

it is strange as we are finding sawdust in parts but there are no holes or any sign of where the sawdust has come from.

Its a complete mystery.

 

Let us know if you find out what is causing it.

 

Any wasps flying about? You tend to get debris dropped as the wasps build and extend the nest. Some nests can be huge!

 

Yes there were a lot of wasps flying about, in fact I got stung by one but I can,t see any wasps nest around.

I suppose this could be the answer

Again this morning there is fresh sawdust but still no sign of where it is coming from.

 

I think we have found the answer, you are right there is a wasp nest in the Laural tree, so we have decided not to touch the Laural yet as there is still fresh sawdust around the base of the tree.

Has anyone any idea when it would be safe to remove the nest.

 

I did a Google on "wasp nest" and found this interesting link
http://www.trapawasp.co.uk/

You may find something there Maurice. Be careful though as I read recently about a couple of men in England who were killed due to receiving a few wasp stings. Turns out they had allergies.

Kind regards and enjoy Gardeners Corner!
Roy

 

Thank-you for that Roy, I think it may be best if we leave it alone at the moment and see what happens.

Iam surprised that they seem to be working at night as that is when the sawdust seems to appear.

We are not seeing any wasps now during the day.

Thanks again Roy

Maurice

 

Pleasure Maurice and good luck!
Kind regards
Roy

 

The mystery continues, I have removed the Wasp nest as it turned out to be an old one.

Sawdust there again this morning, what on earth would something want to remove sawdust from a tree and then carry it to another part of the tree and put it into a neat pile at the base of an old stump.

 

Well Maurice, I've heard about bodies being moved from graves and what have you but sawdust being moved around your garden, well thats another matter...!

I'm totally stumped (sorry about that! :D ).

I'll be watching this topic for any suggestions as its a right mystery!

Cheers now...
Roy

 

A Woodpecker perhaps.... :D

 

Could it be ants ... or a squirrel?

 

Having, said ants, I thought of something ... scroll down to carpenter ants ...

http://badbugs.blogspot.com/