Birregurra’s road side trees treated for Elm Leaf Beetle

Published on 24 April 2018

Birregurra’s road side trees treated for Elm Leaf Beetle

Colac Otway Shire Council has engaged a specialist contractor to treat an infestation of Elm Leaf Beetle in the road side elms in Birregurra.

The contractor will treat 30 English elm trees, or Ulmus procera, along the roadside in the township, which range from lightly to heavily affected with the beetle infestation.

If left untreated, trees initially will lose their leaves and eventually die from the beetle infestation.

Acting CEO Robert Dobrzynski said the beetle infestation defoliates the trees and affected trees were able to cope with the condition for a while but it would eventually kill the trees.

“Birregurra’s trees had an infestation of elm leaf beetle years ago but we haven’t seen it for a long time. We want to get onto it early before it becomes a bigger problem,” he said.

“The work will take place in May and after they’ve been treated they should look a lot better in spring.”

The contractor will also treat a small infestation of elm leaf beetle in trees in Hugh Murray Reserve near Barongarook Creek.