Pest identification
What's eating my laurustinus viburnum?
Viburnum whitefly (Aleurotuba jelinekii)
Signs: Tiny white-winged insects cluster on leaf undersides; nymphs leave white waxy deposits; heavy infestations coat leaves with honeydew and sooty mold.
Control: Encourage natural predators; apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray targeting leaf undersides; remove heavily infested foliage.
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips cause leaf curl, distortion, and sticky honeydew deposits.
Control: Blast off with water; use insecticidal soap; introduce beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps and ladybugs.
Viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni)
Signs: Larvae skeletonize leaves in spring; severe repeat attacks weaken and may kill the shrub.
Control: Remove egg-laden shoot tips in winter; apply spinosad or pyrethrin when larvae emerge in spring.
Keep laurustinus viburnum pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Laurustinus Viburnum pests — FAQ
What is eating my laurustinus viburnum?
Laurustinus Viburnum is troubled primarily by viburnum whitefly and aphids in mild climates, plus occasional scale. In UK gardens deer may browse young growth. Whitefly populations can build rapidly on this evergreen species, coating foliage in sooty mold and weakening the plant significantly over a single season.
How do I get rid of viburnum whitefly (aleurotuba jelinekii) on laurustinus viburnum?
Tiny white-winged insects cluster on leaf undersides; nymphs leave white waxy deposits; heavy infestations coat leaves with honeydew and sooty mold. Encourage natural predators; apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray targeting leaf undersides; remove heavily infested foliage.
How do I get rid of aphids on laurustinus viburnum?
Dense colonies on shoot tips cause leaf curl, distortion, and sticky honeydew deposits. Blast off with water; use insecticidal soap; introduce beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps and ladybugs.
How do I get rid of viburnum leaf beetle (pyrrhalta viburni) on laurustinus viburnum?
Larvae skeletonize leaves in spring; severe repeat attacks weaken and may kill the shrub. Remove egg-laden shoot tips in winter; apply spinosad or pyrethrin when larvae emerge in spring.