05-09-2009, 08:38 PM
Hi All
Was walking round the lakes at work the other day and came across 2 Alder trees that had been completely defoliated by what i think are sawfly larvae, thousands of the little critters covering the trees. But what has got me is that i have not seen a single bird in these trees, with a bounty like this i thought it would have been focus of attention. But must say a walk around today revealed a lot more larvae on many other trees but not in the same concentrations as the other two and still little bird activity. So i was wondering if it was due to them being distastefull to birds, i wouldn't have thought so, but can't think of any other reason why they aren't being predated.
Any info would be much appreciated, thanks.
Was walking round the lakes at work the other day and came across 2 Alder trees that had been completely defoliated by what i think are sawfly larvae, thousands of the little critters covering the trees. But what has got me is that i have not seen a single bird in these trees, with a bounty like this i thought it would have been focus of attention. But must say a walk around today revealed a lot more larvae on many other trees but not in the same concentrations as the other two and still little bird activity. So i was wondering if it was due to them being distastefull to birds, i wouldn't have thought so, but can't think of any other reason why they aren't being predated.
Any info would be much appreciated, thanks.
