Viburnum - Ask Extension
Something is eating my viburnum leaves. I’ve seen damage other years, this is the worst year. I never see the culprit.
I try not to spray bug ki...
Knowledgebase
Viburnum #870844
Asked May 30, 2024, 6:32 PM EDT
Something is eating my viburnum leaves. I’ve seen damage other years, this is the worst year. I never see the culprit.
I try not to spray bug killer.
What could it be? How to prevent?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Viburnum leaf beetles were first reported in Minnesota (Twin Cities area) in 2019. This pest is spreading rapidly and it threatens the health of several commonly planted viburnum species.
Apparently we need to deal with the larvae in May and early June and the adult beetles from late June into the summer.
The larvae are visible and abundant when they are present, but they grow rapidly and in many cases they fall to the ground and pupate before the damage is noticed.
The following publications discuss this pest's life cycle, what can be done to control it, and when control measures must be taken.
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/viburnum-leaf-beetle/
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/viburnum-leaf-beetle
In the long run we may need to replace susceptible viburnum species with those that are resistant.
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/suscept.html
Apparently we need to deal with the larvae in May and early June and the adult beetles from late June into the summer.
The larvae are visible and abundant when they are present, but they grow rapidly and in many cases they fall to the ground and pupate before the damage is noticed.
The following publications discuss this pest's life cycle, what can be done to control it, and when control measures must be taken.
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/viburnum-leaf-beetle/
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/viburnum-leaf-beetle
In the long run we may need to replace susceptible viburnum species with those that are resistant.
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/suscept.html
