Are you sure its not Elm Leaf Beetle? Nonetheless, I'd wait until next year. The tuliptrees are too small to release into something useful so lots of benefits lost if the tree comes down in haste. Elms are pretty tough.

.02

Dan

I guess being a Westerner means you don't have 500 pests/month to deal with...sheesh!

Dan

If DED is prevalent in your area (like it is here), I'd go ahead and remove it in order to open things up for your other trees.

Thanks for all of your opinions. Yes, DED is prevalent in my area which is why I originally planted the understory trees just in case my Elm suddenly died. The beetles in the tree are definitely Japanese Beetles. I can see them swarming around and in the tree like it was a giant bee hive. As if 1 swarm wasn't bad enough, a new swarm of black birds or red wing black birds has now engulfed my tree and are feasting on all of the Japanese Beetles. Regardless of whether or not I keep the tree, it is an interesting war to watch.

As if 1 swarm wasn't bad enough, a new swarm of black birds or red wing black birds has now engulfed my tree and are feasting on all of the Japanese Beetles.

Cooool!

Dan

Go blackbirds!!!

Where are you located? I'm in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. In 2003 I planted a couple elms, and was distraught at the damage they got from Japanese beetles. Fortunately, in the last few years the Japanese beetles have almost vanished from the area, and the trees look great. I'd leave the tree for now.

Alex

I had Japanese beetles having their way with a small plum tree, a pussy willow, and a small peach. I sprayed the plum and peach as they were easy to reach, but within a few days it seemed like all the Japanese beetles were gone. I didn't see any birds swarming, but there are lots of birds in the area.

vince