What's eating my rosemary?

Rosemary is a tough Mediterranean herb with relatively few pest problems. Rosemary beetle is the most distinctive threat in the UK, stripping leaves from stems. Spider mites attack plants grown indoors or in hot, dry spots. Aphids can colonise soft new growth in spring. Leafhoppers cause pale stippling. Good drainage and full sun keep the plant vigorous and resilient.

Metallic purple-and-green striped beetles and their greyish larvae strip foliage from stems, leaving bare woody stubs; adults and larvae present autumn through spring. Pick off adults and larvae by hand; shake stems over a sheet and collect fallen beetles; apply pyrethrin spray on non-harvest days for heavy infestations.

Pale or bronze stippling on needle-like leaves; fine webbing at stem tips; most common on indoor or greenhouse-grown rosemary in dry winter conditions. Increase airflow and humidity; mist foliage; apply neem oil or miticide spray every 5–7 days; move plants outside in warmer weather if possible.

Small colonies on tender shoot tips in spring; sticky honeydew; distorted new growth — less common on established woody plants. Squash by hand or blast with a jet of water; apply insecticidal soap; natural predators usually suppress colonies quickly on outdoor plants.