QuestionI live in Ohio I just planted 2 pear trees about a mo. ago. They were doing great. Now there is something eating the leaves. I sprayed them with seven, that don`t seem to be helping. But we are getting a lot of rain. Help
AnswerSounds like one of the leaf eating beetles. You would see caterpillars if they were the problem. The beetles will feed at night.
The adults can be controlled by spraying susceptible plants with insecticides. Over-the-counter pesticides available for this include: acephate (Orthene), carbaryl (Sevin), and several pyrethroids - bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, and others. During the heavy adult activity periods, sprays may be needed every 5 to 10 days.
Spray the foliage with the spray.
Heavy rains will wash the insecticides off sooner. The liquid spray if it does not rain within 6 hours should last longer. I would try applying every 5 days and this should kill any beetles that re infest the tree.
Or for all season protection use a product called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control. This is applied to the soil around the tree and the roots will carry it to the foliage and twigs and when the insects feed they are killed. It will take a couple of weeks to get the insecticide to the foliage of larger trees so I would spray and then apply the Bayer product that way you will kill the beetles present and the soil applied insecticide will keep them from coming back. Here is a web link to this product. Check with your local garden type store for this product.
http://www.bayeradvanced.com/tree-shrub-care/products/12-month-tree-shrub-insect