Pest identification
What's eating my box honeysuckle?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on new shoot tips; honeydew leading to sooty mold; yellowing at tips of hedge
Control: Clip and remove heavily infested shoot tips when hedge trimming; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage predators
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy brown bumps on inner woody stems; progressive dieback in dense hedge centres
Control: Thin the hedge to improve airflow and light penetration; apply horticultural oil to exposed stems
Vine weevil
Signs: Notched leaf margins (adults at night); root damage causing container plants to collapse suddenly
Control: Apply beneficial nematodes in late summer to soil and containers; check root zone for white C-shaped grubs
Keep box honeysuckle pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
box honeysuckle pests — FAQ
What is eating my box honeysuckle?
Box honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) used as hedging is susceptible to aphids and scale insects on its dense twiggy growth. Whitefly can colonize shaded inner shoots. Vine weevil adults notch leaf margins and larvae attack roots in containers. In some regions, deer and rabbits browse the soft growth.
How do I get rid of aphids on box honeysuckle?
Colonies on new shoot tips; honeydew leading to sooty mold; yellowing at tips of hedge Clip and remove heavily infested shoot tips when hedge trimming; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage predators
How do I get rid of scale insects on box honeysuckle?
Waxy brown bumps on inner woody stems; progressive dieback in dense hedge centres Thin the hedge to improve airflow and light penetration; apply horticultural oil to exposed stems
How do I get rid of vine weevil on box honeysuckle?
Notched leaf margins (adults at night); root damage causing container plants to collapse suddenly Apply beneficial nematodes in late summer to soil and containers; check root zone for white C-shaped grubs