Pest identification
What's eating my chokeberry 'nero'?
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
Signs: Skeletonized foliage with only the leaf veins remaining; metallic beetles congregating on sunny-side leaves in July and August
Control: Hand-pick at dawn into soapy water; apply neem oil spray on foliage as a feeding deterrent; milky spore (Bacillus popilliae) in lawn soil to target grubs.
Aphids
Signs: Tightly curled new shoot tips; sticky residue on leaves; colonies most visible in spring on fresh growth
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap if colonies persist beyond two weeks; ladybird adults and larvae are effective natural predators.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine yellow stippling on leaves, worst on water-stressed plants in summer heat; dusty webbing visible under magnification
Control: Water the plant well and mulch to retain soil moisture; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap to both leaf surfaces in the evening.
Keep chokeberry 'nero' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Chokeberry 'Nero' pests — FAQ
What is eating my chokeberry 'nero'?
Chokeberry 'Nero' is one of the most pest-tolerant fruiting shrubs available. Japanese beetles are the main insect concern in eastern North America. Aphids and spider mites appear under stress. Birds eat the berries at harvest. Overall pest pressure is low, making 'Nero' suitable for low-spray gardens.
How do I get rid of japanese beetle (popillia japonica) on chokeberry 'nero'?
Skeletonized foliage with only the leaf veins remaining; metallic beetles congregating on sunny-side leaves in July and August Hand-pick at dawn into soapy water; apply neem oil spray on foliage as a feeding deterrent; milky spore (Bacillus popilliae) in lawn soil to target grubs.
How do I get rid of aphids on chokeberry 'nero'?
Tightly curled new shoot tips; sticky residue on leaves; colonies most visible in spring on fresh growth Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap if colonies persist beyond two weeks; ladybird adults and larvae are effective natural predators.
How do I get rid of spider mites on chokeberry 'nero'?
Fine yellow stippling on leaves, worst on water-stressed plants in summer heat; dusty webbing visible under magnification Water the plant well and mulch to retain soil moisture; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap to both leaf surfaces in the evening.