Problem with my honey locust

[winjr]

I live in Southwest PA.  Does anybody have any idea of what it is that's causing this to my honey locust tree?  I've researched this extensively online and haven't found anything that looks like it.  I've got quite a bit of leaf drop (the leaves eventually turn yellow and fall), already, which is the exact opposite of last year, when the tree was vigorous and full.  So much, in fact, that I needed to call in a tree pruner to cut the tree back - so much of it was hanging over my roof and gutters.  The year prior to that, I had the same problem as pictured, and in early summer applied the recommended amount of bioadvanced tree and shrub protect and feed.  Still, I don't know the root of the problem.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Khriss]

Could be two problems, root issue ( early leaf fall)  and attack by insect ( wots leaf underside look like?) k

[Mark J]

Have you got any pictures of the whole tree?

[winjr]

2 hours ago, Khriss said:

Could be two problems, root issue ( early leaf fall)  and attack by insect ( wots leaf underside look like?) k

I'll get pictures of the entire tree later today.  In the meantime, this is the bug that I've found plenty of running around the leaves and stems.  He's very small.

Edited July 13, 2021 by winjr

[winjr]

I've uploaded more pictures. 

 

The first shows the leaf drop after last night's rain.

The next two show the tree itself.  The first of these shows how I the tree was pruned back away from the house last summer.

The next shows the trunk of the tree.  As you can see, there's quite a bit of lichen that has grown on the old bark.

The next shows the underside of the leaves.

 

Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated.   I had this same problem two years ago, but not last year.  We've had sufficient rain in this area - my back yard is greener than it normally is at this time of year.  I am noticing new growth at the end of some of the branches.

[winjr]

Some more pictures of the tree, for good measure.

[treesen]

6 hours ago, winjr said:

I've uploaded more pictures. 

 

The first shows the leaf drop after last night's rain.

The next two show the tree itself.  The first of these shows how I the tree was pruned back away from the house last summer.

The next shows the trunk of the tree.  As you can see, there's quite a bit of lichen that has grown on the old bark.

The next shows the underside of the leaves.

 

Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated.   I had this same problem two years ago, but not last year.  We've had sufficient rain in this area - my back yard is greener than it normally is at this time of year.  I am noticing new growth at the end of some of the branches.

 

My friend
Did insects eat these leaves?

[Sycamorework]

Is this the first year it’s happened?

Have you added anything new near the tree?
Could there be anything kept on the concrete area collecting water and distributing it to the tree, a grit bin for example?

[winjr]

32 minutes ago, Sycamorework said:

Is this the first year it’s happened?

Have you added anything new near the tree?
Could there be anything kept on the concrete area collecting water and distributing it to the tree, a grit bin for example?

It didn't happen last year - just the opposite, actually.  It happened two years ago, first time to the best of my recollection.  Found the same kind of bug on it in the summer of 2019, so applied the Bioadvanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed product that summer, probably around late July.  Then 2020 - tree was great, grew like crazy, didn't drop it's leaves until it was supposed to, in the fall.

 

Nothing has been added new near the tree at all.  It's getting the same rainfall as it always has.  Nothing about it's environment has changed.

 

I mean, I think it's the bug pictured above, but I just don't know.  I haven't been able to identify the bug, either, despite extensive google searches.