What's eating my wayfaring tree?

Wayfaring tree shares viburnum leaf beetle as its most serious pest, capable of repeated defoliation that weakens and eventually kills the shrub. Aphids distort new growth and attract sooty mold. Deer and rabbits may browse young stems, especially in winter when other food is scarce.

Larvae skeletonize leaves from the underside in spring; adults chew irregular holes through summer; severe infestations cause total defoliation Prune out egg-laying sites on twig tips in late winter; apply spinosad or neem oil to larvae in May–June

Puckered, distorted new growth; sticky honeydew leads to black sooty mold on leaves and stems Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid excess nitrogen fertiliser which encourages soft, aphid-attractive growth

Clean-cut stems close to ground level, particularly on young plants in late winter and early spring Wrap base of stems with wire mesh guards in autumn; apply repellent sprays around the plant perimeter