Need help getting rid of some nasty maggots eating my trees

[Asketa]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to gardening (I have just recently inherited a backyard from my parents). After doing some basic gardening (cutting the overgrowths, removing some tree stumps, planting grass etc.), I found these little demons in one of the stumps (photos below). They have completely eaten the roots of a tree. I have also found them on the other side of the backyard, under some grass (no tree stumps there).

I don't know what these things are, but they are disgusting (I think I saw Bear Grylls eat one once ). I am concerned because I have a big walnut tree (50+ years old) in the middle of my backyard and I hear woodpeckers every now and then working on it, so I'm guessing live trees have them also.

I would like to save it if I can... How do I get rid of them? Can I save the tree?

(I will upload the photo of the tree last, it's on the far left)

 

[Chuck]

I don't know what you have in Serbia but if you can find a product that contains all or any of the following chemicals it is what kills grub worms the best. Bifenthrin, Trichlorfon, Imidacloprid, and Cabaryl. Those are full grown grubs and will soon or have already stopped eating and will soon form cacoons only to emerge in the spring as beetles.

 

[Owdboggy]

The pictures are of cockchafer grubs. The adults do feed on tree leaves, the grubs on roots, most often grass rather than tough old tree roots. Leave the grubs on the surface and watch the birds have a feast. Any poison you use would affect any birds or wild life which ate the grubs. I am very reluctant to spray anywhere where there is likely to be food for humans to be grown.

 

[Asketa]

Thank you both for your replies! If I find a good product, should I spray it? Or what would be the best way to apply it?

And I agree with you Owdboggy, but I think that my walnut is infested with them. I don't know how to take them out :/

 

[Chuck]

Thank you both for your replies! If I find a good product, should I spray it? Or what would be the best way to apply it?

And I agree with you Owdboggy, but I think that my walnut is infested with them. I don't know how to take them out :/

What you have now is strictly underground and eat roots and a drench is required. But these are mature grubworms and either have stopped eating the roots or very soon they will stop. In the spring these things will turn into a flying insect. We call them June Bugs, but they eat leaves and lay eggs in your grass and soil which turn into these grubworms. You can spray for the flying insects but I have never found a really effective means of controlling them as they are extremely mobile and fly for long distances. The most effective way of controlling the grubworms is with the use of beneficial nematodes but I don't know if they are available there or not.

 

[Owdboggy]

There may well be something else in your Walnut rather than the June bugs.

Pests and Diseases

Pests and diseases of Walnut Trees and their control methods

graftedwalnuts.co.uk

 

[Asketa]

There may well be something else in your Walnut rather than the June bugs.

Pests and Diseases

Pests and diseases of Walnut Trees and their control methods

graftedwalnuts.co.uk

Hm. Now that you mention it, I'm not exactly sure. It was a rather healthy tree until about 10 years ago. One side of it just died or dried off. I asked some people from my village, and they call it "plant stroke". Similarly when humans have a stroke and one side of their body becomes paralyzed. They also said there is nothing I can do about it.

I took some photos a few minutes ago. Leaves look healthy, even if it is autumn. It also has a lot of fruit. The only problems are dead branches and tree bark falling off. I also notice worm holes.

I would like to try to save it as best as I can. I have fond memories of playing as a kid below its canopy

(Maybe I should have made another topic for this?)