What's eating my serviceberry?

Serviceberry faces birds raiding ripe berries (their worst threat), plus aphids distorting new shoots, sawfly larvae skeletonizing leaves, and occasionally tent caterpillars. Netting fruit before ripening is the most effective defense; most pest damage is cosmetic on this otherwise tough, low-maintenance edible shrub.

Entire berry crop stripped before or at ripening; fruit disappears rapidly Drape fine-mesh netting over the canopy as berries color up; remove after harvest

Leaves skeletonized or reduced to midribs by pale green larvae in late spring Hand-pick larvae; apply spinosad or neem oil spray targeting young larvae

Curled, distorted new shoots and leaves; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mould Blast off with a strong water jet; introduce ladybirds; insecticidal soap if severe

Silken tents in branch forks; foliage inside stripped by gregarious caterpillars Remove and destroy tents by hand in early morning; Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray on young larvae