Pest identification
What's eating my mock orange 'belle etoile'?
Aphids
Signs: Curling sticky shoot tips; green or black colonies; honeydew drips onto lower leaves; sooty mould
Control: Water jet on new growth; insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds; avoid over-fertilising with nitrogen
Scale insects
Signs: Brown waxy bumps on older stems; reduced vigour; yellowing foliage
Control: Horticultural oil in late winter; scrub off with a toothbrush and alcohol; prune congested stems
Leaf miners
Signs: Pale, winding tunnels within leaf tissue; minor and cosmetic
Control: Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; encourage parasitic wasps
Keep mock orange 'belle etoile' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Mock Orange 'Belle Etoile' pests — FAQ
What is eating my mock orange 'belle etoile'?
Mock Orange 'Belle Etoile' is attractive to aphids, which cluster on the soft new growth that produces its fragrant blooms. Cucumber mosaic virus (spread by aphids) can mottled and distort leaves. Leaf miners and scale insects occasionally colonise older stems. Keeping aphid populations low is the single most important defence.
How do I get rid of aphids on mock orange 'belle etoile'?
Curling sticky shoot tips; green or black colonies; honeydew drips onto lower leaves; sooty mould Water jet on new growth; insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds; avoid over-fertilising with nitrogen
How do I get rid of scale insects on mock orange 'belle etoile'?
Brown waxy bumps on older stems; reduced vigour; yellowing foliage Horticultural oil in late winter; scrub off with a toothbrush and alcohol; prune congested stems
How do I get rid of leaf miners on mock orange 'belle etoile'?
Pale, winding tunnels within leaf tissue; minor and cosmetic Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; encourage parasitic wasps