Pest identification
What's eating my red chokeberry?
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
Signs: Skeletonized leaves with intact veins; beetle clusters on foliage during midsummer; repeated defoliation weakens younger plants
Control: Hand-pick beetles into soapy water; neem oil spray on foliage; treat surrounding lawn with grub control to reduce the local adult population.
Aphids
Signs: Curled and distorted new growth; sticky honeydew; ants patrolling shoots indicate an active colony
Control: Water jet to dislodge; insecticidal soap spray; encourage natural predators by planting nectar-rich companion plants nearby.
Scale insects
Signs: Bumpy, waxy gray or brown lumps on bark of older stems; yellowing foliage and dieback in heavy infestations
Control: Scrub light infestations off with a soft brush; apply dormant horticultural oil spray in late winter before bud break; neem oil in summer.
Keep red chokeberry pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Red Chokeberry pests — FAQ
What is eating my red chokeberry?
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) shares the pest resistance of the genus. Japanese beetles cause the most noticeable summer foliage damage. Aphids and scale insects occasionally appear on older wood. Birds aggressively harvest the bright red berries in autumn. Overall, pest pressure is minimal for this species.
How do I get rid of japanese beetle (popillia japonica) on red chokeberry?
Skeletonized leaves with intact veins; beetle clusters on foliage during midsummer; repeated defoliation weakens younger plants Hand-pick beetles into soapy water; neem oil spray on foliage; treat surrounding lawn with grub control to reduce the local adult population.
How do I get rid of aphids on red chokeberry?
Curled and distorted new growth; sticky honeydew; ants patrolling shoots indicate an active colony Water jet to dislodge; insecticidal soap spray; encourage natural predators by planting nectar-rich companion plants nearby.
How do I get rid of scale insects on red chokeberry?
Bumpy, waxy gray or brown lumps on bark of older stems; yellowing foliage and dieback in heavy infestations Scrub light infestations off with a soft brush; apply dormant horticultural oil spray in late winter before bud break; neem oil in summer.