Viburnum leaf beetle belongs to the leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) family and is indigenous to Asia, Europe, parts of the United States, and Canada. It gets its name from the viburnum plant on which it preys upon.
This species was spotted for the first time in 1947, in Canada’s Ontario region. However, specimens were collected as early as in1924 in Novas Scotia’s Annapolis Royal town. In New York, it was first sighted in a park, where it had caused heavy damage to the arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) plants growing there.
Size: 4.5 – 6 mm (0.17 – 0.23 inches)
Color: Most of the viburnum beetle’s body, head, elytra, and thorax is yellowish-brown except the front portion that appears dark brown. The short golden hairs covering the dorsal region, in particular, are about 5 mm (0.19 inches) long.
The larva, about 1 – 2mm (0.03 – 0.07 inches) long, has a yellowish-green or light brown body with black dashes and lines all over. They grow to about 10 -11 mm (0.39 – 0.43 inches) upon maturation, attaining a sub-cylindrical shape. While the young larva feeds on the undercol3s of the soft leaves, the older ones mostly eat the top parts.
The pupa, bright yellow at the onset, reaches about 6 – 8 mm (0.25 – 0.31 inches). However, they mostly remain hidden below the soil and are barely visible. The entire pupal stage lasts for about ten days.
The ball-shaped eggs with a yellowish-brown to brown coloration are about 1/6th inches in diameter. They are laid in clusters and remain covered with frass.
| Other Names | Viburnum beetle |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Throughout Europe, Asia, eastern Canada, northeastern United States including certain parts of New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania, Vermont |
| Habitat | Wherever viburnum plants grow |
| Common Predators | Spined soldier bug |
| Seasons most active in | Larvae: April – June Adults: July – August |
| Host Plants | Viburnum |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Viburnum plants, mostly arrowwood viburnum, Rafinesque viburnum, sardent viburnum, snowball bush viburnum, viburnum tinus, and nannyberry viburnum |
The larvae chew holes in the viburnum leaves, reducing them to a lace-like pattern. This feeding damage pattern of theirs closely resembles that of the Japanese beetle.
The adult species start feeding between late June and early July mostly making oblong holes in the leaves.
A severe infestation could defoliate the shrubs, weakening the plant eventually, causing it to wither and die.
Image Source: hort.extension.wisc.edu, nantucketconservation.org, oregonstate.edu, arthropodafotos.de, hort.extension.wisc.edu, arthropodafotos.de, thompson-morgan.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com
Viburnum leaf beetle belongs to the leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) family and is indigenous to Asia, Europe, parts of the United States, and Canada. It gets its name from the viburnum plant on which it preys upon.
This species was spotted for the first time in 1947, in Canada’s Ontario region. However, specimens were collected as early as in1924 in Novas Scotia’s Annapolis Royal town. In New York, it was first sighted in a park, where it had caused heavy damage to the arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) plants growing there.
Size: 4.5 – 6 mm (0.17 – 0.23 inches)
Color: Most of the viburnum beetle’s body, head, elytra, and thorax is yellowish-brown except the front portion that appears dark brown. The short golden hairs covering the dorsal region, in particular, are about 5 mm (0.19 inches) long.
The larva, about 1 – 2mm (0.03 – 0.07 inches) long, has a yellowish-green or light brown body with black dashes and lines all over. They grow to about 10 -11 mm (0.39 – 0.43 inches) upon maturation, attaining a sub-cylindrical shape. While the young larva feeds on the undercol3s of the soft leaves, the older ones mostly eat the top parts.
The pupa, bright yellow at the onset, reaches about 6 – 8 mm (0.25 – 0.31 inches). However, they mostly remain hidden below the soil and are barely visible. The entire pupal stage lasts for about ten days.
The ball-shaped eggs with a yellowish-brown to brown coloration are about 1/6th inches in diameter. They are laid in clusters and remain covered with frass.
| Other Names | Viburnum beetle |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Throughout Europe, Asia, eastern Canada, northeastern United States including certain parts of New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania, Vermont |
| Habitat | Wherever viburnum plants grow |
| Common Predators | Spined soldier bug |
| Seasons most active in | Larvae: April – June Adults: July – August |
| Host Plants | Viburnum |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Viburnum plants, mostly arrowwood viburnum, Rafinesque viburnum, sardent viburnum, snowball bush viburnum, viburnum tinus, and nannyberry viburnum |
The larvae chew holes in the viburnum leaves, reducing them to a lace-like pattern. This feeding damage pattern of theirs closely resembles that of the Japanese beetle.
The adult species start feeding between late June and early July mostly making oblong holes in the leaves.
A severe infestation could defoliate the shrubs, weakening the plant eventually, causing it to wither and die.
Image Source: hort.extension.wisc.edu, nantucketconservation.org, oregonstate.edu, arthropodafotos.de, hort.extension.wisc.edu, arthropodafotos.de, thompson-morgan.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com
