Pest problem on Berberis

Last post 28-07-2012 7:12 PM by courierdude. 6 replies.

• 22/07/2012 05:05 PM
  Rita Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 22 Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact bug.jpg Hi, My once proud and colourful berberis has been defoliated by dozens of yet to be identified maggots/grubs. I have included a picture to help. I am hoping someone may recognise the little blighter and suggest a possible way of rescuing the shrub? Any help very much appreciated. Rita

• 22/07/2012 05:38 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9,503	Reply | Contact  That one looks like the larva of the Berberis sawfly. sue1002

• 22/07/2012 07:02 PM	In reply to
  jon jon Location: stratford on avon Joined on: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 288	Reply | Contact I had a Berberis stripped bare of all leaves last year,it regrew all new leaves by the autumn,looking fine at present

• 23/07/2012 03:48 PM	In reply to
  Rita Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 22 Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact Thank you very much for the replies. Jon, did you treat the plant in anyway (pesticides etc)?

• 23/07/2012 10:07 PM

  In reply to

  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 519

  Reply | Contact Things like 'Ultimate Bug killer' will kill them, and any other little critter that makes its home on, or visits, your berberis (friend and foe alike). It might be the best way because you can't easily hand pick grubs off a berberis! Now you've got this creature, you'll probably see it every year. It usually has one generation in mid-to-late spring, and a second one mid-year. In a bad year they'll strip the whole plant before you know it, but if you're on the lookout you can catch them early and take measures. It's a relatively new pest in the UK I think, arriving with all the plants we now import from the continent, and is usually much worse after a mild winter - presumably because more survive from the previous year. My own berberis haven't been affected this year so far, but I'll be on the lookout now. Cheers, Alex

• 27/07/2012 10:49 PM	In reply to
  Rita Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 22 Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact Yes I treated it with Py (pyrethrum) spray and also removed by hand. Seemed to to gone.

• 28/07/2012 07:12 PM	In reply to
  courierdude Location: cambs/suffolk border Joined on: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 236	Reply | Contact great photo of the offending grub too! i can see why birds aren't so keen on clearing your berberis for you. energy follows thought