What's eating my american elderberry?

American elderberry is attacked by elderberry borer beetles, aphids, and spider mites, while deer and rabbits browse young shoots. Birds eat fruit before harvest. The elderberry borer (Desmocerus palliatus) is the most destructive pest, tunneling into canes and causing dieback. Netting fruit and removing infested canes are the primary defenses.

Adult beetles chew bark near the crown; larvae tunnel into canes, causing wilting and sudden cane death Cut and destroy infested canes below the entry hole in late summer; do not compost; no chemical control is reliable once larvae are inside

Dense colonies on new growth cause curled, yellowing leaves and sticky honeydew; sooty mold follows Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybugs and lacewings

Strip ripe berries from clusters before harvest, reducing yield significantly Drape fine mesh bird netting over fruiting stems once berries begin to color; remove after harvest

Deer browse stems and foliage in fall and winter; rabbits gnaw bark on young canes at ground level Surround plants with wire caging or deer fencing; apply repellent sprays in dormant season and re-apply after rain