Viburnum Leaf Beetle

(Click on an image below to see the captioned full-size version)
Figure 1		Figure 2		Figure 3		Figure 4		Figure 5		Figure 6

Scientific Name: Pyrrhalta viburni
Common Name: Viburnum leaf beetle

Known Hosts:
The viburnum leaf beetle only feeds on Viburnum species. V. dentatum complex (arrowwood viburnums), V. opulus (European cranberrybush viburnum), V. opulus var. americana (American cranberrybush viburnum), and V. rafinesquianum (Rafinesque viburnum) are most susceptible to viburnum leaf beetle damage. V. lantana (wayfaringtree viburnum), V. lentago (nannyberry viburnum), V. prunifolium (blackhaw viburnum), and V. sargentii (Sargent viburnum) are somewhat susceptible to viburnum leaf beetle damage.

Key ID Features (Adults, Larvae, Eggs):
	Larvae hatch in late April and feed until mid-June when they pupate.
	Immature larvae are about 1mm long, greenish-yellow to off-white, and lack spots. Immature larvae are very difficult to see and are found on the underside of leaves. (Figure 1)
	Mature larvae are 10-11mm about a ½ inch) long, yellowish brown, and have spots. (Figure 2)
	Adults are brown, 4.5-6.5mm (about ¼ inch) in length, and difficult to see. Adults emerge in early July and feed until leaf drop. (Figure 3)
	Egg “caps” are 1-2mm in diameter, brownish-black in color, and arranged in straight rows on the under surface of terminal twigs. (Figure 4)

Description of damage:
	Larvae feed on the areas between the leaves’ veins leaving “skeletonized leaves”. Larval damage is seen from late April through the summer. (Figure 5)
	Adults chew irregular circular to elliptical holes in the leaves. Adult damage can be seen from late June until leaf drop in fall. (Figure 6)

Similar species or symptoms:
No similar species are found feeding on viburnum.

Fact sheets and references:
UMass Extension Viburnum Leaf Beetle fact sheet
http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/defoliators/viburnum_leaf_beetle.html

Cornell University, Department of Horticulture, Viburnum Leaf Beetle home page
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/index.html

Cornell University Fact Sheet
http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Extension/Woodys/VLBfactsheet2000.pdf

National Agricultural Pest Information System, Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
http://www.ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/vlb/

Viburnum Leaf Beetle Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull) in the Nursery and Landscape
Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ontario, Canada
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/vlb.htm

Viburnum Leaf Beetle: Pennsylvania State University Entomological Notes
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/viburnum_leaf.htm

Viburnum Leaf Beetle: University of Guelph Pest Diagnositic Clinic
http://www.uoguelph.ca/pdc/Factsheets/Insect/viburnum.htm

last reviewed February 26, 2008