What is eating Honeysuckle

What is eating Honeysuckle? (10 Culprits & Quick Fixes!)

Aphids, also called Greenflies feed on Honeysuckle foliage and distort them. Caterpillars of various Moths and Butterflies also feed on Honeysuckle foliage. Spider Mites and Scale insects also feed on Honeysuckle. Animals like deer, rabbits, and birds like Robins eat Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle is a group of shrubs/vines that are grown in gardens for their blossoms. It is easy to grow this plant.

Honeysuckle flowers tend to attract Hummingbirds. What else do they attract? Let’s see what kind of insect pests/animals they attract.

You’ll also learn how to protect Honeysuckle from these insects and critters.

What are the little bugs on Honeysuckle?

The tiny, green bugs you see on Honeysuckle are aphids. Greenflies are the type of aphids that are seen on Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle aphids are pale green to creamy-colored. Aphid eggs hatch in the spring as new growth begins on the plant.

These insects start feeding on the foliage right away. Aphids hide on the lower sides of the leaves. They also hide in flower clusters.

Aphids inject growth regulators into the plant as they feed on the foliage. The flowers and leaves become distorted and curled due to this.

How do I stop Honeysuckle Aphids?

Below are a few ways to prevent aphids from infesting your Honeysuckle.

  • You can grow aphid-repellant plants around your Honeysuckle. Aphid-resistant plants include Nasturtiums, Garlic, Catnip, and Chives.
  • Destroy all the plants that were infested last year. Don’t compost them, just get rid of all the plant parts.
  • To control aphids biologically, introduce Ladybugs, Parasitic wasps, or Lacewings onto the infested Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle Aphid treatment

Follow the below instructions to get rid of aphids that are devouring your Honeysuckle.

  • One can dislodge aphids from Honeysuckle by spraying a steady stream of water on the undersides of the leaves/flower clusters. You can use soapy water for better results.
  • You can spray Horticulture oil on the affected parts of Honeysuckle to get rid of the eggs and the dormant aphids.
  • If the infestation is severe, spray systemic insecticides on the plant. Apply Imidacloprid and Acephate when the first spring leaves appear. Repeated applications may be needed.
  • Inspect the Honeysuckle regularly and act immediately if you see any sign of infestation.

Honeysuckle resistant to aphids

Honeysuckle varieties like Arnold’s red, Clavey’s Dwarf, and Emerald Mound are pretty resistant to aphid infestations.

Proper watering and fertilizing practices make a plant healthy enough to deter such pest infestations.

Do Caterpillars eat Honeysuckle?

Caterpillars of Honeysuckle Moth(Ypsolopha dentella) eat Honeysuckle foliage. Caterpillars of the Hummingbird clearwing moth and snowberry clearwing moth are a common sight on Honeysuckle plants too along with other caterpillars.

Young Honeysuckle Moth caterpillars are inconspicuous. The adult ones are green with some purple on them. Even the adults blend in well with the foliage, surprisingly.

Tips to get rid of Caterpillars on Honeysuckle

Follow the below guidelines to get rid of Caterpillars on your wonderful Honeysuckle.

  • Pick the caterpillars by hand and throw them into a bucket of soapy water. You can do this regularly to keep the population in control.
  • Apply Bacillus thuringiensis on all of the Honeysuckle plant parts to get rid of Caterpillars organically.
  • You can control caterpillars biologically by placing birdhouses in the garden. Birds are natural predators of caterpillars.
  • One can spray Neem oil, Insecticidal soap, or Horticulture oil on the Honeysuckle to get rid of caterpillars. Do this only if the infestation is out of hand.

Spider Mites on Honeysuckle

Two-spotted Spider Mites are a common sight on Honeysuckle. These insects feed on the foliage, leaving yellow spots on them.

The feeding habits of Spider Mites distort the leaves. Honeysuckle’s growth will be stunted if the infestation is severe.

How do you get rid of Spider Mites on Honeysuckle?

Follow the below measures to get rid of Spider Mites on your Honeysuckle.

  • Spray a steady stream of water at the affected parts of Honeysuckle to dislodge Spider Mites.
  • You can also introduce Lady beetles and Lacewings onto the affected Honeysuckle to control mite populations biologically.
  • One can also use miticides like Abamectin, Dicofol, or Bifenthrin on Honeysuckle to eliminate Spider Mites. Apply once per week, two or three times should do the job.
  • You can use Neem oil to eliminate Spider Mites too, other insecticides don’t seem to work.

Scale on Honeysuckle

Armored scale insects feed on the leaves and stems of Honeysuckle. ‘Greedy scale’ is commonly seen on Honeysuckle.

Scale insects attach themselves to the undersides of the leaves and flower clusters. It is hard to get rid of a scale infestation.

How to get rid of Scale on Honeysuckle?

Follow the below guidelines to get rid of Scale insects on Honeysuckle.

  • One can wipe off the scale insects using a cotton swab that’s dipped in rubbing alcohol.
  • You can also remove these insects by using a soft toothbrush. Prune off the infested parts of the Honeysuckle.
  • Spray Horticulture oil in late spring as the leaves don’t curl up yet.

What wildlife is attracted to Honeysuckle?

Animals like Deer and Rabbits are attracted to Honeysuckle. Frugivorous birds like Robins are attracted to Honeysuckle.

Do Deer eat Honeysuckle?

Yes, deer eat Honeysuckle. They eat the plant to the ground, that’s how much they love Honeysuckle foliage.

Whitetail deer are often seen around Honeysuckle. Some varieties like Coral Honeysuckle, Privet Honeysuckle, and shrubby Boxleaf Honeysuckle are deer-resistant.

So, some species are more deer-resistant than others. You can cover the flower bed with chicken wire to protect new foliage from deer.

Do Rabbits eat Honeysuckle?

Yes, rabbits eat Honeysuckle especially when the plant’s young. Rabbits shouldn’t eat Honeysuckle seeds as they’re poisonous to them.

You’ll see these critters in the garden once the plant is green.

Do Robins eat Honeysuckle?

Yes, Robins are attracted to Honeysuckle berries. Robins are frugivorous and they’d eat Honeysuckle if they get a chance.

You can keep Robins away by setting up plastic decoys in the garden.

Happy Gardening 🙂