What's eating my bilberry?

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a wild-type Vaccinium with relatively light pest pressure. Vine weevil is the most damaging pest, notching leaves and killing roots. Bilberry aphid and aphid-like psyllids attack foliage. Caterpillars of several moth species feed on leaves. Birds and deer compete for fruit and foliage.

Distinctive irregular notches along leaf margins from adult feeding at night; white grub larvae in soil eat roots, causing wilt and plant death Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist, warm soil; use sticky barriers on container rims; check root zone of wilting plants for white C-shaped larvae.

Distorted, yellowing leaves on young shoots; honeydew deposits; colonies on undersides of leaves from spring onward Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; water blast on accessible plants; encourage beneficial insects by maintaining diverse surrounding flora.

Ragged holes or complete defoliation of individual stems; leaf-rolling caterpillars silk leaves together and feed within Hand-pick caterpillars and egg masses; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) spray when caterpillars are small; check for leaf-rollers and open them.