Viburnum Pest Control Learn About Pests Affecting Viburnums

What bug is eating my viburnum?
How do I get rid of bugs on my viburnum?
What is attacking my viburnum?
What's eating my verbena?
What can kill viburnum?
How do you kill aphids on viburnum?
What do you spray on viburnum?
What causes holes in viburnum leaves?
How do you revive viburnum?
What insecticide kills viburnum beetle?
What do viburnum beetles look like?
How do you get rid of leaf beetles?

What bug is eating my viburnum?

If you're noticing lots of holes in the leaves of your viburnums from late spring through summer, chances are good that you have viburnum leaf beetle (VLB). Native to Europe, VLB was accidentally introduced to North America sometime in the last century.

How do I get rid of bugs on my viburnum?

Insecticidal soaps, spinosad, or chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn) can help control the VLB pest with reduced harm to beneficial insects. These pesticides work best when applied to larvae early in the life cycle, likely in late April or early May. Spinosad and chlorantraniliprole also control adult viburnum leaf beetles.

What is attacking my viburnum?

Viburnum beetles are a species of leaf beetle that feast on shrubs from the viburnum family. The larvae (April to June) can be up to 8mm long, while the adult beetles (late July to September) are greyish brown in colour and around 4.5-6mm long.

What's eating my verbena?

Mealy bugs insert a stylet into the verbena feeding on the plant sap. This will result in stunted plants, discolored leaves and premature leaf dropping. Horticultural oil, Neem oil and insecticidal soaps will kill the mealy bugs. Also, place yellow sticky cards around the plant to catch flying adult mealy bugs.

What can kill viburnum?

Armored scales, such as the oystershell scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi), can infest viburnum and cause branch dieback. If the infestation is severe enough, they may kill the shrub.

How do you kill aphids on viburnum?

Both aphids and thrips are relatively easy to control with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, but control usually requires repeat treatment every week or so. Cover the leaves thoroughly, both the tops and undersides. Don't spray when the sun is shining directly on the leaves or when the temperature is above 85 F.

What do you spray on viburnum?

Spray with insecticidal soap, if necessary, but be careful, as there are many beneficial insects that feed on thrips. You can also introduce beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybugs, and predatory mites to the garden.

What causes holes in viburnum leaves?

Holes in the leaves of viburnums caused by the larvae and adults of viburnum beetle. Plants can be completely stripped of foliage and can emit a foul smell, which is thought to be caused by the excrement of the larvae.

How do you revive viburnum?

Immediately after it flowers next spring, remove dead stems and suckers, and prune out one-third of the oldest stems. Continue removing the oldest stems each spring until the plant has an attractive and natural-looking shape.

What insecticide kills viburnum beetle?

Research does suggest that soil application of a systemic insecticide such as imidacloprid is highly effective against viburnum leaf beetle. (Systemic insecticides are taken up by the plant and transported to the leaves where the beetles feed.)

What do viburnum beetles look like?

An adult viburnum leaf beetle is between 4.5 and 6.5 mm long. The body is gold-gray, but the head, wing cover and shoulders are brown. Larvae are yellow or green and twice as long as the adults. Both adults and larvae feed only on leaves of viburnum species.

How do you get rid of leaf beetles?

To control these insects:

Shake beetles from plants in early morning.
Apply floating row covers.
Set out baited traps upwind of your vegetable garden on two sides and at least 30 feet away.
Spray beetles with insecticidal soap.