Hydrangea devoured

 A hydrangea in a low maintenance part of the garden had its leaves eaten
by a bug last year. By the time we noticed the leaves were completely
gone. Not knowing how the plant would react we did not do much to it
over the winter.

Leaves reappeared patchily this year and now the bug is back. I have cut
up and burnt the affected parts and visit regular to squash bugs as they
appear.

Lots of questions:
What is it?
Should I abandon my usual reluctance to use pesticide?
If so which pesticide?
Is it likely to spread to other plants?

There are some pictures here:
http://www.mrtlfrm.demon.co.uk/garden/
--
Ellis Morgan

 "Ellis Morgan"  wrote ...

Possibly one of the Capsid Bugs but not one I've come across myself...
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pidH4#section1
Under the circumstances I wouldn't hesitate to use a pesticide, as for
which, is there any choice left, see above.
Needs to be sprayed ASAP to save the plant and stop whatever they are
spreading elsewhere.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

 
Thanks Bob,
The pesticide reference is very helpful.

I am not sure if they are capsid bugs. Capsids seem to do the damage as
adults, while what I have are larvae. I can't find anything about capsid
larvae.

Googling around has led me to noctuidae larvae, but none I saw is a good
match for what is on my plant. I have moved the close up larva picture
to the top of my garden web page.

They seem to crawl up the plant until they get to the topmost leaf and
attack that. That is why there are so many clustered on the top of the
branch I lopped off.

The numbers do seem to be reducing under my regular squashing visits and
there is no sign of them on any other plant. The nearest are winter
jasmine and choisia.
--
Ellis Morgan

 "Ellis Morgan"  wrote

If you are a RHS member (or if a friend is) you could send your photo links
to them and ask them what it is...
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Help-advice/RHS-Advisory-Service


--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

 
My wife was a RHS member for a while and we still have friends who
belong.

However someone at bugclub has suggested that I check that my hydrangea
is not a Guelder Rose because he thinks what I have is a Guelder Rose
leaf beetle larva. He is right on both counts.

So it's back red-faced to growing the forsythia for me.

The rather drastic action I have taken does seem to be reducing the
plague. I don't know if the plant will survive, but I am hopeful for a
couple of its layered children.
--
Ellis Morgan