Bay sucker

Symptoms

When nymphs are present, bay tree leaves thicken and curl at the margins and turn yellow. The discoloured areas later dry up and become brown. Another sign is white whooly wax and sticky honey dew which fouls foliage. This can also lead to a further problem with sooty moulds.

Spot them

The damage is caused by an insect, the bay sucker, sucking sap from the young leaves. The winged adults are greenish brown and about 2mm long, and they overwinter in sheltered places. The young nymphs which can be seen in May are flattened wingless insects, whose bodies are covered with a white fluffy material.