Bamboo With Black Spots & Eaten Leaves

Symptoms of Infestation

• If bamboo is infested with powderpost beetles, you will notice holes in the trunks. These holes are 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Look for a very fine powder around the holes, at the base of the plants or inside them. The spots may turn black because of damage or because of a fungal infection invading damaged areas. Leaves also appear damaged, and may turn yellow and drop off the plants.

Identification

• There are several types of powderpost beetles, but they are all black, brown, or red-brown. They are flat and long. Their bodies have two segments, the second segment being much longer than the first. They may be anywhere from 1/32 to 1/8 inch long.

Elimination

• TThe best way to get rid of a powderpost beetle infestation is removing affected bamboo canes and destroying them. Do not save the bamboo for any type of use, as the beetle larvae survives to reinfest surviving plants. If the holes are infected with a fungus, apply a copper-based fungicide. This eliminates the fungal infection allowing the plants to heal.

Prevention

• Powderpost beetles infest dry wood with a moisture content above 15 percent but below that of lush, well-watered bamboo. The best prevention method is keeping bamboo watered and green. If it dries out, it is be susceptible to infection.