The Honeysuckle aphid has become a big threat to honeysuckle shrubs throughout our area. This pest was discovered and reported for the first time in the late summer of 1982. The Tartarian honeysuckle commonly used in this area because of its winter hardiness and drought tolerance is very susceptible to the aphid. If the new growth on your honeysuckle shrubs looks stunted and unsightly, they probably are infected with the honeysuckle aphid.

The aphid is hardy enough to pass the winter as an egg in the folded leaves and the witches brooms. After hatching out in the spring, the females give birth to living young, which are all females. After two or three hatches of wingless females, a hatch of winged aphids is produced. These will move on to infect other susceptible honeysuckles.

A combination of regular insecticide application during the growing season and pruning of the witches broom during early spring should control the aphid. These are temporary and time consuming practices which may be practical for landscape planting but not in shelterbelt or windbreak plantings. Pruning must be done before May 1st to reduce the first hatch of honeysuckle aphids. The insecticide Orthene is cleared for use in North Dakota and is readily available. Apply Orthene at two to three week intervals, starting when the aphid hatch and continuing into August. Other insecticides labeled for aphids such as Tempo can also be used. The active ingredient in Tempo is available in Bayer Advanced Garden Multi-Insect Killer.  When using insecticide, mix and apply according to label directions.

Additional pruning through the summer will help the beauty of your shrubs, but won't control the insect. Pruning will stimulate new growth which provides a favorite site of attack for aphids.

This page was last updated April 2003

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