In recent years, a new pest, the brassy leaf beetle, has posed a significant threat to various species of the genus Salicaceae, including Black cottonwood and native tea-leaved willow, especially in the southern region of Iceland. Notably, this summer marked the first sighting of severely affected tea-leaved willow bushes in the North Iceland town of Akureyri. On the other hand, damage to birch trees caused by the white-spotted spring-jewel and the sawfly Scolioneura betuleti appears to be less severe in the southern region this year compared to previous years. This observation raises the possibility that a recently discovered natural enemy of the sawfly may be contributing to the decline in damage. Have you spotted any damage to trees this summer? And how is the outlook for seeds on different tree species this year? Let us know!
