the tree outside my home. but for how long?
A Sapt Parni (Alstonis Solaris) also known as The Dev...
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the tree outside my home. but for how long?
A Sapt Parni (Alstonis Solaris) also known as The Devil Tree. About 25 years' old, 40ft tall, east facing, off the gate. There's a drain off it, but that seems ok. In late Feb 06, insects appeared for the first time - and stuck around till it got really hot.
eats, shoots and leaves: the insects also eat our heads
They start off as these deceptively tiny greyish ant sized specks but gradually get bigger - in size and number, an army of many 1000s (attached pic). They leave a stubborn yellowish stain when swept or stepped upon. But most of the time they walk all over us. Cleaning the stains is tougher than making headway with MCD. in fact the maid just fired us!
The insects are coming off the leaves (above pic) -see those specks on the leaves, how they bloat up. And if you grab at a branch, your hand gets all yucky yellow. (i couldn't photograph this as my camera would've got all yucky yellow: and that my camera refused, even though it was Jap)
still small, but wait till they enter their terrible teens
They are everywhere now, moving into the house, on the sofa - crawl all over guests and hosts alike. Real parasites. Getn smarter too - To avoid getting burnt, they're moving below the parapet -last year they trekked along the driveway.
I've tried my darnedest to get thru with somebody at MCD, the horticulture div, but nothing. Still trying new numbers, but it's a crazy runaround.
(excerpts from letters to tree lovers (experts? of Delhi, 2007)
white trash: even more demonstrative than paris h.
Just like Paris! everywhere they go, they leave filth
Now: in 2008.
The insects are bigger, faster, and even bigger exhibitionists than Paris.
Everybody (the neighbours, family, Paris' grandfather) has just about given up.
And it looks like they're going to finally cut it. Not just from the wills, but from the roots!
A real pity, because after 25 years of kissing the delhi smoggy skies, good ol' devil will have to go!
Think you can save her? Please help.
Be a friend of the Devil. Or it'll just be ungratefully dead.
Friend of the Devil Lyrics by Grateful Dead
If you want, you can even hum or strum in your suggestions.
We will be grateful. and the tree won't be dead.
The Delhi Daredevils support postive action for the Devil Tree. Do you? youwho?
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Thanks again dear santhemant. will check at the nurser for that.
have to double check on the name, will let you know.
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another trick-get the bio pesticide ninbu oil neem oil and dilute 60 ml with 10 litres of water and spray all over the trunkand tree .the insects will be repelled.
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Thanks But can you have you identified the insects then i can ask my tree and pest expert-give me its close up pics... better -its name ..
has
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Thanks for your concern, santhemant.
gamaxene was tried , tho not with water -just as powder, the mcd guys blasted the tree with it, on their accord, it had no effect on the insects -they are made of sterner stuff. Laxman Rekha worked a bit, but they found a way round it.
It'll be grt if you can share this with your contact.
regards, gaurav
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have you tried gammaxene twp table spoon powder mixed with 2 liters of water on them.My tree expert who has written a book on trees of gujarat a volume with sr.forst official recommends. when i asked him about this.pl tell me if you have already tried and failed then i can ask him again as i have not sent him this blog pics for him to study them and tell us.
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Sir,
They will defenately charge this amount as they are acting both as doctor and chemist.....I am sure that pesticides mentioned by me earlier will work..So it is ur choice now, how to manage
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"Appears the insects come from below -around the roots, so i'm told."
That still sounds like a 'sowbug'. Can you post a close-up photo of some of the insects?
Sow-bugs or other insects that nest and accumulate around the roots of the tree could be controlled by some type of birds. Have you though of penning some chickens, or a peacock, around the base of the tree?
-- Gregory Fegel
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you are on sir!
today the pest control bloke visited - 2k for doing the tree, and the nearby area, and that's just one spray -which isn't adequate. 3.5k for a home contract that we don't need. Appears the insects come from below -around the roots, so i'm told.
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No..no it will just cost you around Rs 200/-..give me contract for Rs. 500/-
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Not for the faint of heart, Meera.
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