Viburnum Bug

[Ann]

My huge Virburnum Tinus shrub is absolutely shredded with a bug of some sort (have never seen an insect on it though) It also gives off a horrible smell and its so embarrassing as it's situated at the front of the house near the path and people have to pass by wrinkling their noses! Its too big to take it out (although I would like to) it will leave a big gap and I couldn't possibly replace it with anything else of the same size. Any ideas what it is please, and what I can do - sprays etc.

[ferlew]

Google Eel Worm, that rings a bell with me.

[ferlew]

This is even more likely


http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=556

[Chipchopper]

Vibernum beetle is very common, especially on tinus.
I've dealt with it before but I can't say I noticed a horrible smell.

What I would do is try to break the life-cycle of the beetle by removing ALL or as much of the infected material as possible.

It can be cut back hard (coppiced) and will respond well be sending up fresh shoots, fairly quickly.

Remove or destroy the leaves and branches you have cut off, this will help prevent any re-occurrence.

[rosyrussell]

You can spray it with an insecticide, the RHS site suggests the following "spray the plants with deltamethrin (Bayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer), lambda-cyhalothrin (Westland Plant Rescue Fruit & Vegetable Bug Killer) or thiacloprid (Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer). Organic gardeners can use pyrethrum (eg Py Spray Garden Insect Killer, Doff All in One Bug Spray, Scotts Bug Clear Gun for Fruit & Veg). Pyrethrum should control newly hatched larvae but will be less successful against the adult beetles." If I encounter a bush attacked like this I give it a good prune, spray the remaining foliage with an insecticide, and then feed the shrub and water it at the base to give it the best opportunity to grow new leaves. You will need to spray it fairly regularly to control the adult beetles before they lay their eggs again.