How to revive an unhealthy lilly pilly?

O-J

What is the most likely cause of the ill-health of this lilly pilly (see photo)?

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @O-J. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about your Lilly pilly's health.

Could you please share a closeup image of one of those lower leaves that has the semicircular bite marks out of it? I suspect that the culprits are Lilly Pilly Beetles (Paropsides calypso). The beetle and larvae in large enough populations can devastate bushes in a matter of days. Since this is a newly emerging pest, there hasn't been a whole heap of testing done on treatment.

If you inspect the bushes, can you find any bright green beetles or larvae? If it's not Lilly pilly beetles, it could potentially be caterpillars, which can be sprayed directly with Yates 750ml Ready To Use Nature's Way Citrus And Ornamental Spray.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

O-J

Many thanks for your reply Mitchell Mc. I'm not seeing any beetles or larvae, although I was told when/after I put them in (about 18 of them) that they would probably get smashed by lilly pilly beetle.

MitchellMc

Interesting @O-J. Who told you that about the beetles? Have there been outbreaks in your area?

Let me call on our resident horticulturalist, @Noelle, to see if she has any thoughts.

Mitchell

O-J

Many thanks Mitchell...great service! It was a local business owner, who told me about the LP beetles. He told me to take the shrubs out again even though I had just put them in...and I think he was probably right!

I don't know of any outbreaks in the area. I'm in Stumpy Gully Rd about 3.5kms north of Balnarring.

It seems to me that If I sprayed alternately with Neem-oil + Eco-oil, white oil and Contender, I would just about have everything covered.

Noelle

Hi @O-J

I'm not aware of any outbreaks of lilly pilly beetle in southern Victoria, and I'm not all that far from you. I've certainly never seen it locally although I know it exists in warmer, more humid regions. There's a great article on this pest here. It includes methods of control and these products are available in Bunnings.

The damage certainly looks to be a chewing pest as the shoots and leaves have been completely destroyed. Perhaps a closer look may highlight exactly what it is but to me the damage looks to have been caused by a caterpillar.

O-J

OK, that's really helpful Noelle, thank you. I thought LP beetle had come down this far, but obviously not.

What spray therefore would you recommend?

EricL

Hello @O-J

Let me tag @Noelle to make them aware of your question. I was going to suggest using Yates 50ml Baythroid Advanced Insect Killer For Gardens because it has a broad plant and pest coverage. But let's wait for Noelle's recommendation.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Noelle

I agree, @EricL or the combination of eco products referred to in the article I mentioned earlier - eco-neem plus eco-oil.

Jason

Just wanted to alert all readers of this discussion that the wonderful Noelle has shared a comprehensive guide How to diagnose and revive a sick lilly pilly. I trust you will find it useful.

Thanks,

Jason