What bug is eating my rhododendron leaves?

What bug is eating my rhododendron leaves?

The biggest pest you will likely face is Vine Weevil and its easy to spot simply from the damage they do to the leaves as pictured above. The adult beetles eat the leaves and then it’s baby grubs which live in the soil eat the roots of your rhododendron.

What is nibbling my rhododendron leaves?

Deer and rabbits. Both these animals can cause great destruction in the rhododendron garden. We find Scottish rabbits can eat most evergreen azaleas and species deciduous azaleas such as R. albrechtii.

What to spray on rhododendrons for bugs?

Apply horticultural oil sprays at a 2% solution (5 tablespoons oil per gallon of water). Insecticidal soap sprays during the growing season will help control crawlers and adults of soft scales, like the azalea bark scale.

How do you get rid of leaf eaters?

One of the best ways you can fight this pest off is by regularly misting the leaves to keep them moist. You should also dust and clean the leaves often to prevent these mites from laying eggs on them. For extreme cases, try a homemade bug spray made of water and neem oil for indoor plants.

How do you get rid of lace bugs on rhododendrons?

Spraying lace bugs directly with a contact insecticide such as neem oil or insecticidal soap will kill the pests with minimum risk to beneficial bugs.

How do I get rid of rhododendron borers?

Prune out and destroy heavily infested parts of the plants whenever wilting stems are noticed. Rhododendrons can be protected from further infestation by rhododendron borers by spraying the stems with one of the pyrethroid insecticides labeled for home landscape use.

Why are there holes in my rhododendron leaves?

Beetles damage leaves by chewing oval-shaped holes. They are usually associated with container nursery stock in areas with dense shade. Remove ground litter and weeds from the area and reduce shade where possible. Treat late in the day and repeat once or twice weekly.

How do you treat rhododendron lace bugs?

Safari and imidacloprid are systemic insecticides that can be applied to the soil surface to kill the lace bugs above. Acelepryn and Flagship soak into the leaf, but do not move systemically in the plant.

How do you keep bugs from eating your leaves?

Garlic, Onions and Hot Pepper Products from your pantry can also be effective repellants against leaf destroying pests. Homemade mixtures of garlic, onions and hot pepper deter several chewing pests including flea beetles, caterpillars, cabbageworms, hornworms and aphids.

What causes holes in rhododendron leaves?

Rhododendron borer – Heavily infested branches weak, breaking easily; leaves wilt and turn brown; holes in infested branches with fine sawdust; white caterpillars in tunnels. Black vine weevil – Damage to leaves done late at night; white grubs feeding on roots during growing season; adult weevil is black .

What do you spray for lace bugs?

Systemic insecticides available for use against lace bugs include the neonicotinoids dinotefuran (Safari) and imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control, Merit) and the organophosphate acephate (Lilly Miller Ready-to-Use Systemic, Orthene).

What is eating the leaves of my rhododendrons?

Minimize insect damage to your rhododendrons with preventive measures and quickly implemented remedies. Spirea aphids — tiny, green, pear-shaped insects — feed in groups on the undersides of tender new leaves.

What are the black bugs on my rhododendrons?

The tiny lace bug does most of its damage in the spring and summer and tends to be most problematic on rhododendrons that have been planted in sunny locations. The young insects feed on sap and leave small drops of black excrement in their path.

How do I get rid of lace bugs on my Rhododendron?

Control: Rhododendron lace bugs should be treated when they appear in early May. Repeat sprays as needed. Recommended insecticides to control the Rhododendron lace bug are the same as for the azalea lace bug. As with all pesticides, read and follow all label directions and precautions. Southern red mites, eggs, and cast off skins.

How do you treat mites on a rhododendron?

Mulch to retain moisture and provide protection. Of the few rhododendron insect problems that exist, most can be handled first through prevention or subsequent treatment with neem oil. Here are some common pests affecting this shrub: Spider mites – Spider mites feed off of bud and leaf sap, leaving leaves yellow or bronzed.