Bucida "Black Olive" Staining

In this video, Dr. Doug Caldwell, Ph.D, Commercial Landscape Horticulture and Landscape Entomologist from the University of Florida Collier County Extension, reports on his findings of sidewalk staining under a Bucida "Black Olive" tree.

The dark brown staining is not caused by the trees leaves or flowers but rather from the frass waste produced by caterpillars. The caterpillars are also culprits of significant leaf damage to a trees canopy.

If treatment is desired, the best time to treat the pest problem is when the tree is in flower and while caterpillars are feeding. Dr. Caldwell recommends soft pesticides such as B.t.: Bacillus thuringiensis and Spinosad, primarily used for caterpillar eradication, or a more powerful chemical treatment such as Bifenthrin.