Paw Paw Tree Being Bitten (forum)

Brendon starts with ...
I am having problems with my Paw Paw trees, the tops appear to be being bitten or stung by something, see attached photo's. I have noticed some bugs around the tops and have srayed with imidacloprid however obviously something is wrong with these trees.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 28th October 2011 4:11pm

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About the Author Brendon
Townsville
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Ellen says...
Brendon

Look like the slugs/snails have been feastings on your paw paw,,,,,try to water your paw paw early in the morning and not during the late afternoon or evening, as they do come out to feast during the night.

As mine was attacked on the tip, it killed off my pawpaw, it rotted it away slowly.

Time: 29th October 2011 4:00am

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About the Author Ellen
Fairfield
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Brendan says...
G'day Brendon,
If it were mine, I'd cut it off about 600mm (2 foot) above the ground, put a tin can on top, leave 2 or 3 shoots grow.
Feed it some Dolomite, old manure, Sulphate of Potash and mulch well.
If it's growing in heavy/clay soil, some Gypsum will help too.

Time: 29th October 2011 7:34am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Brendon says...
Oki doke, thanks guys, there are new shoots shooting from the top but I thought whatever is happening to them might continue. These trees flowered but never fruited, looks like cutting the tops off might be the answer.

Time: 31st October 2011 5:18pm

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Mike says...
Brendan, it sure looks like fruit spotting bug damage with stem deformation and bunchy top.You have to spray right on those swift adults to arrest the damage as they can bite the trees even with surface sprays on them.Kill them by hand especially the small orange flightless juveniles.The trees grow through it and flourish once this scourge is gone but if there is an umbrella tree or other host plant they will return.The bugs also enjoy avocado,guava,some citrus and hog plum.

Time: 31st October 2011 8:04pm

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Brendon says...
Thanks Mike maybe I'll continue killing them by hand for a while before taking the radical step of cutting tops off.

Time: 1st November 2011 6:07pm

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About the Author Brendon
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Peppercorn says...
This is the same problem I have in Tewantin.
I think it's the stink bugs and the little black ants. I cut off the tops of a few of mine and heaps of little black ants came running out from within the plant stem.
I think they work in tandem!!

Time: 21st March 2020 3:05pm

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Original Post was last edited: 21st March 2020 3:19pm
About the Author Peppercorn
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