How do you get rid of red dots on maple leaves?

You can get rid of maple gall mites by spraying the tree down with insecticide, dormant spray, or by applying liquid lime sulfur to the tree. If the infestation is especially invasive, you may also want to prune down the tree.

Are maple gall mites harmful?

While humans may consider maple bladder galls unsightly, they are not dangerous to the health of the tree and no control measures are warranted.

What are tiny red dots on maple leaves?

These red protrusions are caused by an insect such as the Bladder Gall Mite, or a Spindle Gall Mite which are found to be lurking around your trees early in the spring season. The red bumps are a result of the mites chewing on the tree leaves specifically in the growing season.

What insecticide kills gall mites?

Insecticidal soap can be found at your local garden or home improvement store and helps protect the plants from gall mites. Apply the spray during the plant’s dormant season before the buds sprout to give it the best protection. Follow the instructions on the insecticidal soap spray to be sure it works its best.

Do maple gall mites bite humans?

Can people be bitten by itch mites? Yes. Although the oak leaf gall mite feeds on midge larvae, they can accidentally bite people when looking for food. Mites usually need about four hours on your body before they bite.

What do maple mites look like?

Maple Bladder Gall Mite The galls are yellowish green at first but later become pinkish to red and finally black. There may be many galls on some trees or parts of trees and few on others. They may be very abundant one year and scarce the next.

How do I get rid of bugs on my maple tree?

Spray tree with insecticidal soap or castor oil and spray the soil around the tree with a natural bacteria that will target the grubs. An application of milky spore or Bacillus thuringiensis will usually rid the soil of grubs.

What are the red dots on maple trees?

Maple bladder galls result from abnormal leaf growth due to stimulation or “irritation” from the feeding of mites. Tiny growths, approximately 0.125 inches in size, occur primarily on the upper surfaces of maple leaves. Newly formed galls are yellowish-green, but later become pinkish to red and finally black.

What do you spray maple trees with?

Prevention & Treatment: The most effective control is to replant with resistant trees. Spraying three times at two-week intervals with a copper-based fungicide, mancozeb, chlorothalonil, or thiophanate methyl starting when the leaves begin to unfurl in spring will provide control (see Table 1 for specific products).

How do you remove gall from a tree?

Prune and destroy gall-infested twigs and branches. Burn or step on the galls to kill the developing larvae. Place gall remains in a tightly sealed baggie or trash bag and discard immediately. Rake and destroy gall-infested fallen leaves.

What are red bugs on a maple tree?

Maple spider mites are frequent and damaging pests of nursery and landscape maple trees (Acer spp.), most commonly Acer rubrum and Acer x freemanii. Adults range from 0.25 to 1 mm in length, have multiple hairs along their back, and are reddish-brown in color.