What's eating my burkwood viburnum?

Burkwood Viburnum faces viburnum leaf beetle and aphids as its chief threats, plus occasional scale insects. Deer and rabbits may browse young stems in winter. Viburnum leaf beetle is now the most destructive pest in North America, capable of complete defoliation over several seasons if left unchecked.

Larvae skeletonize leaves in spring; adults create rows of small round holes in summer; repeated attacks kill branches and eventually the whole shrub. Remove egg-laden shoot tips in winter and destroy them. Apply spinosad or pyrethrin sprays to foliage in late spring when larvae first hatch.

Clusters of soft-bodied insects on new growth cause curled, distorted leaves and sticky honeydew that encourages sooty mold. Knock off with a strong water jet; introduce ladybugs or lacewings; apply insecticidal soap spray for heavy infestations.

Tan or brown waxy bumps on stems reduce vigor; honeydew and sooty mold follow. Scrub scales off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil in late winter before bud break; systemic neonicotinoid as last resort.