My 3 10+ year old prunus cistena shrubs are being attacked by something (photo attached). I think it’s spittle bug. Also, my peony leaves are being eaten by something (photo attached). My mahonia has brown leaves. Photo of spittle bug attached plus other bugs on other plants. Please advise. I have many more photos and would like to include them but for some reason, I can only download one. Please e-mail me and I will e-mail the other photos to you. With thanks.
Hello – I can’t tell from your photo if your purple leaf sand cherries are being attacked by spittle bugs. However, spittle bugs are fairly easy to identify. The spittle bug nymphs reside inside a frothy mass that can be up to ¾ of an inch long. It’s this frothy mass or ‘spittle’ that gives the insect it’s name. I’m including a link to an article I found on spittle bugs from the University of Minnesota Extension. The article contains some good pictures which should help you with identifying this insect.
The article notes that spittlebugs are not usually damaging to plants so managing spittlebugs is not necessary. Your plant looks very healthy in the photo. Are you seeing any damage? If you decide this insect is not a spittle bug, please send another photo that includes both the insect and the damage caused by the insect.
I hope we can help you out with the issues with your peonies and your mahonia. Please send in two separate questions with clear photos of the damage to both plants along with a description and extent of the damage.
June 7, 2024