Bay Laurel and Red Robin Defoliation: Pest Identification Needed

7-meter bay laurel and nearby red robin (Photinia) being defoliated. Bay pests rare except scale.

Action Steps

1. County extension: Submit leaf samples. They ID local chewing insects.
2. Gardens Alive: gardensalive.com for organic controls once pest ID'd.
3. Inspect: Night check for caterpillars, beetles. Day for sawfly larvae.

Bay-Specific

Scale = sticky honeydew + sooty mold. Not defoliation. This is a chewer.

Professional ID essential for large trees.