What is the Viburnum Leaf Beetle?
The viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) is an exotic leaf beetle native to Europe. The beetle feeds exclusively on many different types of viburnum. The species of viburnum most susceptible to infestation include: • European cranberry bush • Arrowwood • Rafinesque • Wayfaring tree • Nannyberry • Blackthorn • Chinese • Possum-haw, smooth witherod • Mapleleaf • Sargent • Wright The viburnum leaf beetle lays its tiny brown eggs on the underside of twigs, typically in a straight row. The eggs are then covered with a hard “cap” made of dried mucus, excrement or chewed bark. The larvae are greenish-yellow. The adult beetle is brown and about ¼” long. In the United States, the viburnum leaf beetle has been found in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Ohio. The viburnum leaf beetle is a serious defoliator and has destroyed many landscapes in all these areas. The Problem Viburnum leaf beetle larvae are voracious leaf eaters, feeding on the areas between the veins crea
