Does anyone know what these bugs are that are eating my snowball viburnum? I purchased this shrub in 2005 in memory of my grandmother. Every year, it gets defoliated but I never can find anything eating it. This year I finally found the little buggers, and they are little. I've seen articles about the viburnum leaf beetle, but these don't seem to be changing shape or size. I've been spraying every couple of days with a soap insecticide with no luck. Any advice? Will I have to get rid of my snowball bush?
January 2007
Saturday, May 22, 2010
snowball viburnum being eaten alive
Does anyone know what these bugs are that are eating my snowball viburnum? I purchased this shrub in 2005 in memory of my grandmother. Every year, it gets defoliated but I never can find anything eating it. This year I finally found the little buggers, and they are little. I've seen articles about the viburnum leaf beetle, but these don't seem to be changing shape or size. I've been spraying every couple of days with a soap insecticide with no luck. Any advice? Will I have to get rid of my snowball bush?
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Wow- that is really a shame. Everything you describe sounds like Viburnum Beetle damage except the photo doesn't look like the beetle larvae to me- but it is a little difficult to see. They look really black in the photo and VB larvae are usually lighter with spots at certain stages. Is it possible its a catepillar of some kind? I am pretty good at id-ing pests, if you can get a better pic you could send to stephencdilley@gmail.com I would love to help if I can. I left PA in 2006 when the VB was just starting to really wreak havoc. Beutiful Arrowwood Viburnums simply dessimated.
ReplyDeleteI saw your question on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like those beetles.
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/id.html
I live in Mississauga, Ontario and have the exact same thing. Little tiny black worm like bugs. Already took down a huge bush we had that was eaten completely. Leaves were left looking like lace. Now working on a smaller one we recently planted. Is there hope? Sprayed it with some fungicide that I had on hand. Does anyone know what to do or are we best to pull it and just plant something else?
ReplyDeleteI've sprayed this bush 4 times with an insecticide soap and it hasn't helped. Yesterday,I clipped off some of the bottom branches and when I stood up, my shirt was covered with the little critters. YUK!! They are now growing and turning brown, definately the viburnum leaf beetle. I will probably cut the bush down and put something pest-free in. I've noticed other snowball bushes around in full bloom and they look great. I think they must be a different variety.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Bonnie ! .. I have aphids that I battle but so far not this .. maybe if you got a sample like this and put it in a sealed bag and took it to a nursery or garden center for some one to ID them for you ? and tell you what to use to get rid of those tiny monsters ?
ReplyDeleteI feel for you girl .. nothing as discouraging as THAT happening .. something ate my Black Barlow columbine right down to sticks .. now that was new to me .. I usually battle leaf miners with that plant .. maybe the heat has invented new bugs for us to be at war with ?
Joy
This is interesting because that's probably my plants are being eaten by viburnum, I didn't realize about it now I know how th eradicate it.m10m
ReplyDeleteMy snowball bush has been eaten after 13 pest-free years!!! It didn't even get to blossom! I'm horrified!! I found one leaf covered on the underside with tiny 1/2 inch greenish white worms...and the leaves are lacy, when they have finished eating. I need to know if this huge and beautiful bush will come back next year, or should I remove it now. If it comes back, will I need to treat it with something?
ReplyDeleteOMG I am seeing the same thing as in all of these comments!!! My leaves are like lace!! But I am seeing exactly as the leaf above with those black like work things...and I have also seen the green ones
ReplyDeleteHELP...i have had these trees for 12 years and nothing!! This year they are being destroyed....I live in Carthage NY