Buddleia eaten: holes in leaves

If you discover that the leaves of the summer lilac (Buddleja) have been eaten, you should act quickly. We'll tell you how you can enjoy this magnificent ornamental shrub with its beautiful white, violet or pink panicles of flowers for a long time to come.

polluters and countermeasures

Will the Buddleia leaves eaten up, three culprits are particularly common. We provide tips on how to recognize and combat the pests.

earwig

The common earwig (Forficula auricularia) is one of the candidates that can be responsible for holes in the leaves of buddleia.

How to recognize the nocturnal omnivore:

• 10 to 16 mm in size
• brownish to black in color
• long antennae at the head end
• a pair of pincers on the abdomen

In addition to animal food, his menu also includes plant products such as the blossoms and leaves of the butterfly bush. Affected leaves show frayed holes. As a rule, however, the damage caused by feeding on the leaves is limited, so that control is only necessary in exceptional cases.

countermeasures

As a rule, countermeasures only make sense in the event of a massive occurrence. It should be taken into account that the earwig likes to feed on other pests such as aphids or caterpillars. So you can use it as beneficial designate in the garden. That's why you shouldn't kill him under any circumstances, just relocate him. The best way to do this is as follows:

• Fill the clay flower pot with wood shavings or fresh straw
• then place it upside down near the affected plant
• tilt slightly on one side
• Earwigs crawl into the pot during the day
• can then be easily relocated

Tip: If you fix the contents of the pot in the pot with some wire, you can also hang them upside down directly in the buddleia. He should touch a branch or the trunk over which the animals can crawl in.

vine weevil

Of the vine weevil (Otiorhynchus) is a particularly voracious beetle and its lavas are also not without. While the larvae live in the soil and feed on the roots, the nocturnal beetle attacks the leaves. This leads to the typical bay damage, semicircular or bay-shaped damage along the leaf edges. However, damage to the leaves is usually only an optical problem. The larvae, which can severely damage the roots of summer lilac, are much more dangerous.

countermeasures

Control is recommended above all when the roots are seriously endangered by the feeding activity of the larvae. Then the risk of a fungal infection also increases. Beetle traps, products from the neem tree and the use of nematodes at.

• Traps are similar to those against earwigs
• Wooden trap with a ribbed piece of wood as an alternative
• place near infested plants
• collect and destroy during the day
• alternatively read beetles at night
• Spray the plant with neem oil-based preparations
• Neempress cake helpful against bugs and larvae
• apply parasitic nematodes against larvae
• Continue treatment for the following two years

A notice: Vine weevils should be controlled with nematodes, especially in spring (April to June) or autumn (August to September). Ground temperatures of at least 13 degrees are required for effective removal.

dovetail

In addition to vine weevils and earwigs, the caterpillars of the swallowtail (Papilio machaon), one of the largest nocturnal moths, can also cause holes in the leaves of summer lilac.

How to recognize him butterfly:

• Butterfly strikingly yellow-black patterned
• blue band and red eyespots on hindwings
• up to 75 mm wingspan
• Caterpillars up to 45 mm long
• initially black with orange-red dots
• later green with black transverse stripes and yellow or orange-red dots

For the moth, buddleia is one of numerous nectar plants and also a rich source of food for its caterpillars. Since the swallowtail always lays its eggs on different types of plants, the caterpillars usually do not cause any major damage to the buddleia.

A notice: The swallowtail applies loudly Federal Species Protection Ordinance as particularly endangered.

countermeasures

Neither the moths nor the larvae may be fought. However, the caterpillars can be read by hand and found in a different natural location - ideally with wild carrots (Daucus carota subsp. carota) that they particularly like - bring out. Regular checks can also be helpful. Otherwise, you should rather enjoy these animals, because summer lilacs are a real magnet for a large number of butterflies.

prevent pest infestation

Prevention is usually better than combat. To prevent the leaves of the buddleia from being eaten by pests, you should pay attention to a few things:

• Only buy healthy plants
• Thin out summer lilacs regularly
• fortify with vegetable manure
• sunny, sheltered from the wind Locations prefer
• good soil preparation and needs-based care
• keep sufficient distance to other plants
• Create habitats and nesting sites for beneficial insects

frequently asked Questions