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what's eating my shrubs and can I stop it? #870601

Asked May 29, 2024, 2:06 PM EDT

I have 4 shrubs on the north side of my house that suddenly are losing all their leaves. One is completely bare and the others are losing most of their leaves. Looks like something is eating the foliage but I could see any pests on the leaves. Just a couple weeks ago they looked fine other than I knew I needed to prune them back soon.

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Carol,

Oh boy, it looks like those are Viburnums and you have a case of Viburnum beetle.

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/viburnum-leaf-beetle/#:~:text=Viburnum%20leaf%20beetle%20larvae%20can,the%20tissue%20between%20the%20veins.

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/manfaq.html#:~:text=chemical%20control%20options%3F-,A%3A%20Again%2C%20note%20the%20most%20effective%20means%20of%20control%20for,anytime%20from%20October%20to%20April.

I would definitely spray your bushes next early spring with dormant oil to help suffocate the eggs of the beetles.

Looks like they may have already killed one bush . Try spraying the others with insecticidal soap.

https://ucanr.edu/sites/mglaketahoe/files/258656.pdf

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/viburnum-leaf-beetle#:~:text=Horticultural%20oils%20sprayed%20onto%20the,of%20eggs%20may%20be%20killed.

I hope you can save the remaining shrubs,

Sally Granath

St. Louis County MG

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 31, 2024, 6:22 PM EDT

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