Rhubarb pests - Ask Extension
What is eating the leaves of my rhubarb plant? My husband found some shiny black beetles in the soil. The rest of the plant looks healthy, the leave...
Knowledgebase
Rhubarb pests #204692
Asked August 05, 2014, 10:06 AM EDT
What is eating the leaves of my rhubarb plant? My husband found some shiny black beetles in the soil. The rest of the plant looks healthy, the leaves are eaten with big holes. There also are some holes in the leaves of a geranium plant and my basil.
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
I suspect the damage to your rhubarb may be from flea beetles. The following is a fact sheet on flea beetles:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05592.html
These are tiny black beetles that will feed on the leaves of many plants in our vegetable garden and landscape. Please look at the information in the fact sheet to help you identify this insect and for control measures.
Your geraniums may or may not be the same insect. The following fact sheet is on the Tobacco
(or Geranium) budworm.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05581.html
The adult moth will lay its eggs which develop into caterpillars that will feed on the petals and flowers of many plants. Check the underside of the leaves of your geraniums to see if you find the larva. Control measures are discussed in the fact sheet.
Flea beetles could also be damaging your basil. Again look for the insect in and around your plants.
If you have had any of our hail this year that can leave your rhubarb with shredded leaves. I know in my yard I had to pull out all the damaged leaves and stems of my rhubarb after several hail storms. It is just now recovering and producing rhubarb again. Also, we have had a lot of wind this year which can tear large leaves.
Thank you for your questions. I hope this information will help.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05592.html
These are tiny black beetles that will feed on the leaves of many plants in our vegetable garden and landscape. Please look at the information in the fact sheet to help you identify this insect and for control measures.
Your geraniums may or may not be the same insect. The following fact sheet is on the Tobacco
(or Geranium) budworm.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05581.html
The adult moth will lay its eggs which develop into caterpillars that will feed on the petals and flowers of many plants. Check the underside of the leaves of your geraniums to see if you find the larva. Control measures are discussed in the fact sheet.
Flea beetles could also be damaging your basil. Again look for the insect in and around your plants.
If you have had any of our hail this year that can leave your rhubarb with shredded leaves. I know in my yard I had to pull out all the damaged leaves and stems of my rhubarb after several hail storms. It is just now recovering and producing rhubarb again. Also, we have had a lot of wind this year which can tear large leaves.
Thank you for your questions. I hope this information will help.
