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Horse chestnuts – under attack?

Horse chestnuts - under attack?

The horse chestnut or conker tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) was probably introduced into this country in the late 16th century. It has been extensively used in artificial plantings along roadsides - in creating avenues. In Spring, the statuesque trees are covered with white flowers, sometimes referred to as candles (see picture). Pink and red flowered forms are hybrid types.

The horse chestnut is recognisable by its distinctive shape; they have arching branches, which turn up at their ends. They also have distinctive palmate (hand shaped) leaves with prominent veins - see https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/tree-identification/horse-chestnut/.

Another feature that is characteristic to the tree is its seed – the conker, which is formed in the autumn within the prickly fruit. At one time, these were used as an animal feed. The wood of the tree is of little economic value.

Horse chestnuts were often planted in by local authorities, in part because of their impressive appearance but also because of their low incidence of fungal disease and pests. However, they are subject to attack by one particular fungus and also a moth. The fungus that attacks the tree is called Guignardia aesculi or the leaf blotch fungus. Reddish brown patches appear on the leaves (from July onwards), particularly at the tips and edges of the leaflets. A closer look will reveal small black pimples, which are the fruiting bodies of the fungus. Infection may result in some of the leaves falling early, but it does not usually result in significant damage to the tree.

However, infection of the horse chestnut with the larvae / caterpillars of a small moth (Cameraria ohridella) has a much greater impact. These caterpillars feed on the tissue between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf, producing ‘mines’. young horse chestnut fruit - conkerThese are tunnels through the leaf where the tissue has been eaten. If the leaf is held up to the light, such tunnels (if fresh) may appear translucent. The loss of the green photosynthetic tissue eventually results in the death of the leaf and early leaf fall. The caterpillars pass through several stages (instars) when the skin is shed and growth occurs. After about 4 weeks (in the summer), they pupate and emerge some 2 weeks later (again, in the summer months) as the adult moth. And the cycle of egg laying and hatching to caterpillar etc. begins again. Many types of tree are infected by leaf miners, but these do not (usually) have dramatic effects. However, the horse chestnut can suffer very severe infestations with these moth caterpillars so that all the leaves fall prematurely; the tree is basically defoliated.  Conkers may be reduced in size.

The moth seems to flourish in very dry conditions. Outbreaks have occurred in the UK in recent years. The first was noted in Wimbledon in 2002, but it has since been seen in many places from North Norfolk to Newport in Wales. The moth is an invasive species, and is thought to have originated in the Balkans ('home' of the horse chestnut).young horse chestnut fruit - conker

 

The spread of this pest is being monitored; if you can help or have any information then the following links may be useful:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/hcml_help_monitor_04.pdf

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-68JJRC/

For further information, see:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/pdf.nsf/pdf/horsechestnut.pdf

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2002/leafminer.htm

For an image of the moth, see :

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-68JJRC/

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2002/leafminer.htm


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Discussion

[…] live inside the leaves of horse chestnuts, turning them prematurely brown in August. Tree lovers are concerned about this alien invader but Fox said there is no evidence the moth causes long-term damage. […]

[…] ~ by Chris The ‘progress’ of the horse chestnut leaf miner has been reported in the blog from summer 2006 to more recently, when a national survey was under way.  This small, but highly efficient […]

[…] An organism that lives on or in another organism (called the host), to the detriment of the host. Parasites can be animals or plants. Many plant diseases are due to fungal or bacterial parasites.http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/horse-chestnuts-under-attack/ […]

Young 10 yr old chestnut tree, looks to have insect eating its outer branch growth, from the inside the stem.tunneling up to the first knot, then coming to a stop….dead growth dropping on the ground. Interior soft growth all eaten. What is it?

Simon Evans

23 July, 2010

[…] and decaying wood. Equally, there are many that are damaging crops, trees and woodlands such the horse chestnut leaf miner moth and the oak processionary […]

[…] has been reporting on the various threats to the Horse Chestnut tree for some years: see blogs for May 2006,  Aug 2006 ,  Sept 2008 and Dec 2009 .    Basically, the tree is under attack by : […]

Could we not be encouraged to bring next year’s seedlings indoors, for rearing in a fairly protected atmosphere, before passing on to recognised growers?

Geoff Bunn

13 November, 2008

I have noticed the extensive spread of the above mentioned moth. I live in north norfolk and cannot believe the destruction of horse chestnut leaves that I see where ever I travel in my local area. If the tree cannot photosynthesise, will this mean they will die? Why have we not seen this moth before and where did it come from?
I have heard that spraying is impractical and the best way to deal with the infestation is to burn the leaves once they have dropped, to kill the over-wintering larvae, but this again is impractical. So what is the future for this much loved tree?
Are there any natural preditors to the moth Cameraria ohridella?

jim russell

17 September, 2008

can this mean the end of our much loved conker trees is it going to be dutch elm over again who knows? will it not over run the tree in to certain death and be subjected to the might of a revolving sword of an abourist left to lay as chippings on the floor

Phil Nederend

21 July, 2008