Pest identification
What's eating my barbecue rosemary?
Rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana)
Signs: Metallic green-and-purple adult beetles and larvae strip leaves and growing tips, leaving bare stems
Control: Hand-pick adults and larvae; shake onto a sheet and dispose. Use pyrethrum-based spray as a last resort. Check stems weekly in autumn and spring.
Spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius)
Signs: White frothy blobs ('cuckoo spit') on stems; nymphs inside suck sap causing distorted, yellowed growth
Control: Blast off with a strong jet of water. Populations are rarely serious enough to need insecticide. Remove plant debris where adults overwinter.
Aphids
Signs: Clusters of soft-bodied insects on new shoots; sticky honeydew and sooty mould follow, stunting tips
Control: Squash by hand or spray with insecticidal soap. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen, which produces the lush growth aphids favour.
Keep barbecue rosemary pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats rosemary — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats barbecue rosemary — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common barbecue rosemary problems & fixes
- Barbecue Rosemary watering schedule
- Barbecue Rosemary light requirements
- Full barbecue rosemary care guide
Barbecue Rosemary pests — FAQ
What is eating my barbecue rosemary?
Barbecue Rosemary faces spittlebugs, aphids, and rosemary beetle as its main outdoor threats. The strong aromatic oils deter most insects, but the rosemary beetle is the headline pest in UK gardens — its metallic larvae strip foliage. Good air circulation and hand-picking keep most problems manageable without sprays.
How do I get rid of rosemary beetle (chrysolina americana) on barbecue rosemary?
Metallic green-and-purple adult beetles and larvae strip leaves and growing tips, leaving bare stems Hand-pick adults and larvae; shake onto a sheet and dispose. Use pyrethrum-based spray as a last resort. Check stems weekly in autumn and spring.
How do I get rid of spittlebug (philaenus spumarius) on barbecue rosemary?
White frothy blobs ('cuckoo spit') on stems; nymphs inside suck sap causing distorted, yellowed growth Blast off with a strong jet of water. Populations are rarely serious enough to need insecticide. Remove plant debris where adults overwinter.
How do I get rid of aphids on barbecue rosemary?
Clusters of soft-bodied insects on new shoots; sticky honeydew and sooty mould follow, stunting tips Squash by hand or spray with insecticidal soap. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen, which produces the lush growth aphids favour.