Its now July, and I see small beetles feeding on my viburnums that were eaten by viburnum leaf beetle larva this spring. Will killing the adult beetles help protect my shrub?
Yes. Reducing the population of adults might improve your viburnum’s chances of surviving. First, defoliation by adults can impair the ability of the shrub to replenish nutrient reserves in the roots. (See first question above.) Second, controlling adults helps prevent the spread of this pest. Larvae aren’t very mobile, but the adults can fly away to other susceptible viburnums where they can lay eggs that will hatch next season. Q: I’ve read that pesticides such as acephate, carbaryl, cyfluthrin/imidocloprid, or malathion can be used against viburnum leaf beetle adults. Do these insecticides need to be sprayed directly on the adults to kill them? A: First, note the most effective means of control for viburnum leaf beetle is pruning and destroying infested twigs after egg laying has ceased in the fall — anytime from October to April — or spraying one of these chemicals when larvae first appear in early May. A second application in mid- to late summer on feeding adults may be helpful
Related Questions
- Its now July, and I see small beetles feeding on my viburnums that were eaten by viburnum leaf beetle larva this spring. Will killing the adult beetles help protect my shrub?
- Id rather not use any pesticides to protect my viburnums from viburnum leaf beetle. Are there any non-chemical control options?
- What is the Viburnum Leaf Beetle?
