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Cleveland Pear Beetle Defoliation: Night-Feeding Beetle Control

New Ohio Cleveland pears (Pyrus calleryana 'Cleveland Select') with leaf feeding unresponsive to Sevin after heavy rain—night-feeding beetles (not caterpillars) requiring persistent spray or systemic.

Beetle Identification

No caterpillars seen = not Lepidoptera
Night feeding = beetles (Japanese beetle, rose chafer, etc.)
Rain washes contact insecticides

Control Options

Contact Sprays (Rain-Vulnerable)

Acephate (Orthene), carbaryl (Sevin), pyrethroids
Reapply every 5-10 days during peak activity
Spray late evening (beetles active, bees inactive)
Need 6 rain-free hours for residue

Systemic (Season-Long)

Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control (imidacloprid soil drench)
2 weeks to reach foliage on new trees
Combo strategy: Spray NOW for current beetles + apply systemic for season

Establishment Priority

New trees need leaf area for root development. Aggressive beetle control first year pays off in establishment speed.

Plant Diseases: Cleveland Pear: Katydid Eggs Misidentified as Scale, Plus Leaf Chlorosis; Limp Branches on Cleveland Pear: Possible Causes; Fire Blight vs. Mechanical Damage in Cleveland Bradford Pear; Cleveland Pear Stunted After Planting: Seek Professional Diagnosis; Cleveland Pear Decline: Overwatering Suspected; Cleveland Pear Premature Fall Color: Root Stress and Graft Issues; Cleveland Pear Street Trees: Regional Decline vs. Fire Blight; Sudden Death in Cleveland Pear: Vascular Blockage and Systemic Rescue; Cleveland Pear Fire Blight: Prune, Sanitize, Streptomycin; Cleveland Pear Tree (Pyrus calleryana 'Cleveland Select'): Fast-Growing Ornamental Shade Tree

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