Laurel attacked!!

Not sure when this started but have noticed on one side of my Laurel bush that the newer shoots have been stripped of leaves by something. It is worse on the top of the bush where the newer shoots have grown, but is still prevalent on the side as well. There are some leaves that just look brown and shotholed, but then other stems are almost completely bare from the mystery muncher/virus.

Strangely, the side of the bush on my neighbours side is largely unaffected! Any ideas?

 

Bunslip, any chance of a photo or two?

 

Thanks, weird that it affects just one side of the bush though?

 

Good idea dai, will pinch the wifes camera and if I can work out how to do it will post--may take a while though!

 

We`ll still be here.

 

If it was spring/summer Id be thinking brown tailed moth.

 

I don't know, never had that (yet), but the scale insects do keep trying to move on for good.

Nice to see you again, Bunslip, not seen you in quite a while.

 

Why don't Insects / Bugs die when they feast on Laurel?
When Laurel is crushed or bruised it produces Cyanide. I use gloves when shredding it because of this.

Trevor

 

Thats a new one on me, I cut miles of the stuff in the summer in T shirt, shorts and no gloves!

 

Bluedun- I didnt know that! Very interesting and a bit worrying! I too have regularly been submerged in the stuff (Laurel not cyanide)

 

I didn`t know it contained cyanide either, Cherry Laurel is poisonous but I didn`t know it was cyanide, I think I`ll check on that.

 

I`ve just been on a website called Plants for a future, and the information on there is that all parts of the Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus, contains hydrogen cyanide. I will look further into this tomorrow.

 

First picture, I think. Im just getting the hang of this, so another one to follow I think....

 

Next one: does this give you enough to go on??