Question
I have been getting a bug that looks like a dark red lady bug on my Royal Empress trees.  Is there anything I can do to get rid of them?  Also, The leaves are turning brown in the middle, I don't know if was because of a short cold spell we had or if it's a disease.
Thank You

Answer
Ladybugs eat other insect--their favorite is aphids. Aphids suck the plant juices from the plant a secrete a substance called honeydew which is high in sugar and sticky.  The leaves will curl and turn brown from the sucking. The lady bugs will eventually control the aphids but you will get the damage. I would treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This is applied to the soil around the tree and the roots will absorb the insecticide and transport it to the leaves and branch. And when the insects feed on the sap they are killed. This will protect the tree for the growing season. 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...