Most of these pests attack trees or shrubs that are already weakened or injured by transplant shock, drought, flooding, soil fills, mechanical damage, or disease. They are found burrowing or tunneling under the bark of infested trees. Several beetles, such as the elm leaf beetle, imported willow leaf beetle, flea beetle, and Japanese beetle, attack trees and shrubs and cause feeding damage. Damage first appears when the green parts of leaves are removed with just the veins of the leaf tissue remaining. As damage accumulates, dry skeltonized leaves become obvious.
Leaves take on a rusty, reddish-brown tint.
Control strategies for major pests of Georgia landscape plants. Follow label directions. Application should cover both sides of leaves and all twigs and branches. For most effective control, time applications for early spring when the first generation is present. Place yellow wooden panels coated with a sticky substance near host plants to monitor for whiteflies.