Viburnum leaf beetle

First egg hatch Active

Pyrrhalta viburni

33 host plants

Last updated

Viburnum leaf beetle larvae skeletonize leaves in May and June, leaving only the upper leaf surface intact and creating a lacy appearance. Later, adults chew irregular holes in summer foliage (July to September). You will see small black egg-filled pits in viburnum twigs in fall. This invasive beetle has been documented in northern regions of the Pacific Northwest.

Prune and destroy infested twigs in late fall when eggs are visible as black caps on branches. Severe infestations warrant removal of entire branches or even plants if spread to new areas. For new infestations, contact your county extension office. Parasitoid wasps and predatory beetles provide natural control over time. Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides.

Quick Reference

Order
Coleoptera
Type
defoliator
Host Plants
33
GDD₃₂ First egg hatch
1,085
Indicator: Deutzia first bloom

Viburnum leaf beetle First egg hatch typically begins around 1085 GDD₃₂. As of May 13, 2026, all seven Puget Sound stations have passed this threshold (1906.2–2098.2 GDD₃₂), so First egg hatch is likely underway across the lowlands.

Regional Season Tracker

GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of May 13, 2026
Station GDD₃₂ Current Stage Next To Go
Issaquah / East King 2,098 First egg hatch — —
Kent / Auburn 2,089 First egg hatch — —
Seattle / UW 2,063 First egg hatch — —
Olympia / Tumwater 2,025 First egg hatch — —
Tacoma / Puyallup 1,993 First egg hatch — —
Bellingham / Whatcom 1,972 First egg hatch — —
Sequim / Rain Shadow 1,906 First egg hatch — —
Regional estimate

Source: UMD IPMnet catalog. Sources: UMD: extension.umd.edu; Cornell: blogs.cornell.edu. About GDD₃₂ →

What Damage Looks Like

Young larvae skeletonize leaf undersides between veins. Mature larvae create small holes. Adults produce oblong feeding marks. Severe infestations leave only midribs and veins, causing complete defoliation. Repeated defoliation causes branch dieback and plant death.

Cultural Controls

  • Winter pruning: remove egg-scarred terminal twigs (distinctive rows of dark pit marks covered with frass) during dormancy. This is the most effective single control measure.
  • Sticky barrier or V-shaped tape collar around trunk base to intercept larvae descending to pupate in soil. Larvae crawl down rather than drop.
  • Hand-pick adults and larvae during active feeding.
  • Plant resistant species: V. plicatum var. tomentosum, V. carlesii, V. burkwoodii, V. davidii, V. rhytidophyllum. Avoid highly susceptible species (V. dentatum, V. opulus) in areas with known VLB populations.
Regional Notes

First WA specimens found in Whatcom County (early 2000s, shortly after 2001 BC detection). By 2015 gardeners were removing viburnums killed by VLB. Invasive from Europe, spreading through WA. Native V. edule and V. ellipticum at risk.

Host Plants (33)

Viburnum × bodnantense Bodnant Viburnum, Dawn Viburnum Viburnum awabuki Sweet Viburnum Viburnum bracteatum Bracted Viburnum, Limerock Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum burkwoodii Burkwood Viburnum Viburnum carlesii Koreanspice Viburnum Viburnum cassinoides Witherod Viburnum, Northern Wild Raisin Viburnum cinnamomifolium Cinnamon Viburnum Viburnum davidii David's Viburnum Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dilatatum Linden, Viburnum, Linden, Arrowwood Viburnum edule Mooseberry Highbush Cranberry, Moosewood Viburnum, Squashberry Viburnum ellipticum Oregon Viburnum, Western Wayfaring Tree Viburnum farreri Fragrant Viburnum Viburnum juddii Judd Viburnum Viburnum lantana Wayfaringtree Viburnum Viburnum lantanoides Hobblebush Viburnum lentago Nannyberry Sheepberry Viburnum nudum Possumhaw Smooth Witherod Northern Wild Raisin Viburnum opulus var. americanum American Cranberrybush Viburnum Viburnum opulus var. opulus European Cranberrybush Viburnum, Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus var. sargentii Sargent Viburnum Viburnum plicatum Doublefile Viburnum, Japanese Snowball, Japanese Snowball Viburnum, Snowball Viburnum Viburnum plicatum var. plicatum Japanese Snowball Viburnum Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum Doublefile Viburnum Viburnum pragense Prague Viburnum Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum rafinesquianum Downy Arrowwood Viburnum, Rafinesque Viburnum Viburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf Viburnum Viburnum rufidulum Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, Southern Blackhaw Viburnum setigerum Tea Viburnum Viburnum suspensum Sandankwa Viburnum, Sandanqua Viburnum Viburnum tinus Laurustinus Viburnum trilobum American Cranberrybush Viburnum

Sources & References

Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.