What's eating my etruscan honeysuckle?

Etruscan honeysuckle (Lonicera etrusca) is significantly affected by aphids — research confirms that Hyadaphis passerinii aphids reduce flower size, stop nectar production, and lower fruit and seed set. Honeysuckle sawfly larvae can strip foliage, and deer browse the stems. Aphids are the dominant and most ecologically damaging pest of this species.

Colonies on new growth distort and curl leaves, reduce flower size, inhibit nectar synthesis and cause witches' broom; honeydew encourages sooty mould Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil early in spring before populations explode; encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps; prune out heavily colonised shoot tips

Pale green larvae feed gregariously and can completely strip stems of foliage, leaving bare stalks Hand-pick larvae when spotted; apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray; natural predators (ground beetles, birds) often keep numbers in check

Stems and foliage browsed, especially in winter and spring; young plants can be grazed to bare stems Use tree guards or wire mesh around the base; apply deer repellent spray; plant inside a fenced area until established