‘Haunted’ tree spooks Salt Rock neighbourhood

A bizarre annual, natural phenomenon in Salt Rock has many people wondering what the cause can be.

Described as ‘heavily infested’, the Coastal Red Milkwood tree (Mimusops caffra) in Robbins Road was covered in what resembled a giant spider web straight out of Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings – except, there was no giant spider lurking inside.

Instead, the tree was host to what is expected to either be the Pyralid moth species, Zith carnicolor, or a species of Gypsy moth, Lymantriidae.

This milkwood is the only host tree targeted by the Pyralid moth, which often forms enormous communal webs similar to the Gypsy moth.

There are about 57 species of Mimusops, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia and some oceanic islands.

Local indigenous plant specialist, Jane Bertram, who has been working with indigenous plants professionally for 20 years, said the tree appeared to be heavily infested and was concerned for its health.

“The tree can cope with a couple of small nests, but if the nest is over most of the tree it may be best to talk to a chemical specialist and treat the tree with a systemic insecticide,” she said.

However, Ballito-based entomologist Graeme Leslie inspected the tree and reported that the infestation period had passed.

“These trees are often known to be seriously defoliated by the Gypsy moth. Infestations of insects like this occasionally erupt when populations surge due to abundant food.”

But sooner or later, the population dwindles and crashes owing to food running out, or when parasites and predators impact the moth, said Leslie.

The tree has survived the infestation.