Caterpillars on berberis

lola34

Just been out in the garden and after loosing a few well established plants over the winter, thought I was loosing a large berberis, however upon closer inspection it is covered in small caterpillars, they are yellow and white with black heads, last time I looked the plant was fine and now 1/2 the leaves have gone, so has only probably occured in the last 24-48hrs, it is roughly 3 ft high by 4 ft wide, should I leave the caterpillars or try and get rid?

chatty123

i had the same problem a few weeks ago with my silver birch. A trip to the garden centre with some samples and i was assured they wouldn't harm my tree in any way.

But after a few days and seeing these little buggars multiplying into the thousands I shameessly had to spray them.

wayne1983

I had these last week but used that bug spray from wilkos, and to note its cleared them and things are recovering slowly!

Davesnave

You have berberis sawfly & you shuld spray, because they have the potential to completely defoliate the bush in a few days. Even if that happens, the bush will grow new leaves and recover, but it will take quite a time to do it and may not look right again till next year.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Science/Plant-pests/Berberis-sawfly

lola34

thanks, I hav been out and there are too many to pick off so have 'brushed' or hit it with a brush to knock them off, thank goodness they are strong bushes. Checked the other berberis's and one other has a few on so will keep an eye on them and possible warn the neighbours.