Pest identification
What's eating my butterfly bush 'black knight'?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine stippling on leaves; pale, dusty foliage; webbing on undersides in hot dry weather
Control: Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity; strong water jet on undersides; insecticidal soap or predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)
Mullein moth caterpillar (Cucullia verbasci) — UK
Signs: Boldly patterned yellow-black-white caterpillars eat leaves and flower spikes from early summer
Control: Hand-pick; Bt spray on young caterpillars; inspect plants in May–June
Figwort weevil (Cionus scrophulariae)
Signs: Semicircular notches along leaf margins; sticky brown larvae on undersides
Control: Pick off larvae by hand; pyrethrin spray for heavy infestations
Keep butterfly bush 'black knight' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats butterfly bush — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common butterfly bush 'black knight' problems & fixes
- Butterfly Bush 'Black Knight' watering schedule
- Butterfly Bush 'Black Knight' light requirements
- Full butterfly bush 'black knight' care guide
Butterfly Bush 'Black Knight' pests — FAQ
What is eating my butterfly bush 'black knight'?
Butterfly Bush 'Black Knight' is beloved by pollinators but also attracts spider mites in hot dry spells and mullein moth caterpillars in the UK. Figwort weevils notch leaves. The shrub is robust and rarely suffers lethal damage, but mites and caterpillars can disfigure foliage if left unchecked through summer.
How do I get rid of spider mites on butterfly bush 'black knight'?
Fine stippling on leaves; pale, dusty foliage; webbing on undersides in hot dry weather Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity; strong water jet on undersides; insecticidal soap or predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)
How do I get rid of mullein moth caterpillar (cucullia verbasci) — uk on butterfly bush 'black knight'?
Boldly patterned yellow-black-white caterpillars eat leaves and flower spikes from early summer Hand-pick; Bt spray on young caterpillars; inspect plants in May–June
How do I get rid of figwort weevil (cionus scrophulariae) on butterfly bush 'black knight'?
Semicircular notches along leaf margins; sticky brown larvae on undersides Pick off larvae by hand; pyrethrin spray for heavy infestations