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These beetles breed very
fast and have a huge appetite for willow.
The leaves bark and buds can all be eaten. Both the larva and the adult beetle will make holes in the leaves.
These damaged leaves will turn a red brown colour. When willow beds are badly infected it is known as “the red” in
the willow bed. Infections like this
can cause the willow to produce less growth and if the infection is very great
then willow growers start to talk about sick rods or beds.
The Crack and white willow are less prone to damage by the willow beetle. This is why we use Golden willow and Belgium red
(see: weaving) as they survive the beetle attack better than other varieties.
I have tried to photograph the larva on the leaf but it it too small to be photographed easily.
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