Viburnum Leaf Beetle—Pyrrhalta viburni
The viburnum leaf beetle is native to Europe and has become a serious pest of viburnum plantings and nursery stock in the Northeast United States. Both the larvae and adult feed voraciously on the foliage; heavy infestations can defoliate shrubs, cause dieback, and eventually kill plants. Viburnums include cranberrybush, hobblebush, arrowwood, nannyberry and snowball bush.
Ornamental shrub (Viburnum sp.) with heavy defoliation due to larval feeding damage (in May) in central New York.
Adult beetles chew oblong shot holes into the leaves. Typically
the first leaves to show damage are low on the plant with the feeding
damage extending to the upper leaves as the year progresses.
Beetles damage twigs with egg sites. These first appear as a row of deep rounded cavities, later appearing as small cankers. Usually found on current year's growth. One female can lay up to 500 eggs.
Adult beetles are about 1/5 inch long, brown with filamentous antennae.
First instar larva–usually found in groups feeding on the undersides of leaves.
Second and third instar larva feeding on foliage–the leaf beetle larvae have a characteristic feeding habit of eating the foliage along the leaf veins, leaving skeletonized leaves.
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Identification and Control Information
- Viburnum Leaf Beetle: Citizen Science (comprehensive information)—Cornell University
- Entomological Notes : Viburnum Leaf Beetle (PDF)—Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension
- Pest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle (PDF)—Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
- Pest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle (PDF)—New York Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
- Exotic Pest Threats: Viburnum Leaf Beetle (PDF)—Maryland Cooperative Extension
[Photos, left to right: E. Richard Hoebeke, Cornell University, Bugwood.org; Paul Weston, Cornell University, Bugwood.org; Paul Weston, Cornell University, Bugwood.org; Paul Weston, Cornell University, Bugwood.org; Paul Weston, Cornell University, Bugwood.org]