What's eating my lonicera periclymenum 'serotina'?

Late Dutch honeysuckle 'Serotina' shares the pest profile of the species: the honeysuckle aphid causing curled shoot tips is the number-one threat each spring. Sawfly larvae can skeletonise midsummer foliage. Deer and rabbits browse garden stems. Because 'Serotina' flowers late into autumn, aphid monitoring should continue through summer.

Tight curling and crumpling of shoot tips beginning in spring; stunted flower buds; honeydew and sooty mould on leaves below. Remove infested tips promptly by hand; spray exposed colonies with insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid high-nitrogen feeding that encourages soft growth.

Creamy yellow larvae skeletonise leaf tissue from early summer, leaving brown papery remains between veins. Hand-pick larvae; spray with pyrethrin or neem oil targeting undersides of leaves; rake and dispose of fallen leaves in autumn.

Stems and flowers browsed, especially in early spring and autumn when other food is scarce; regrowth possible but repeated damage weakens the plant. Wire cage young specimens; use deer-repellent sprays refreshed after rain; site against a wall or fence to reduce access.