Leaf Me Alone

I was up in my terrace yesterday and noticed that the leaves in the tree that grows in my house are having all sorts of problems. I dont know since when it has been like this but I decided to record how it is now.

The first problem are these out growths in the leaves. This is present in almost 50% of the terminating leaf bunches.


It looks like the growth is happening from the veins of the leaves. I guess the parasite feeds on the food coming in through the veins to the leaf.


Finally this is what happens to the leaves. The mass on the top is a full grown leaf and it looks to be fully digested. The one at the bottom looks to be getting there soon.



Then there are these dry patches appearing on the leaves. Looks to be some sort of parasite again.



Finally there is the organic predator. These kaata-erumbu (Big Ants). Unlike what I have seen on NGC where they carry away pieces of leaves to their nest, these ones seem to be feeding on the leaves and thus destroying them. You can see a strand of leaf in the ants mouth as it rips it off from the main leaf.


Here is the predator in close up on a young leaf.


Searching for better pastures maybe?


The predator and the prey. Generally the newers and fresh leaves are left like this as the predator moves on after having its fill.