What's eating my rosemary?

Rosemary's biggest pest is the rosemary beetle, a metallic green-and-purple beetle that strips foliage. Spittlebugs (froghoppers) produce frothy white masses on stems in early summer. Aphids are occasional visitors on soft spring growth. Good air circulation and avoiding overwatering prevent most problems.

Metallic striped adults and grey larvae eat foliage and tender stems, leaving bare stripped branches Hand-pick adults and larvae in autumn–spring; shake plants over a sheet to collect them; pyrethrum spray as a last resort

Foamy white 'cuckoo spit' on stems in early summer; nymphs inside suck sap causing mild distortion Wipe or blast off frothy masses with water; infestations rarely cause serious damage and no chemical treatment is needed

Clusters on young spring shoots; honeydew residue; slight leaf curl on new growth Knock off with water jet; beneficial insects usually control populations; insecticidal soap only if severe