What Pests Eat Jasmine Leaves?

Caterpillars

• The larvae of several moth and butterfly species consume jasmine leaves until they reach maturity. The jasmine budworm (Hendecasis duplifascialis) drills holes in both leaves and flower buds, destroying the flower's petals before it blooms. The gallery worm (Elasmopalpus jasminophagus) and leaf web worm (Nausinoe geometralis) also damages jasmine foliage. According to TamilNadu Agricultural University, gallery worms create tunnels lined with a silky substance through their host's tissues. Leaf web worms create nests connected to multiple stems and consume large portions of their host's leaves.

Mites

• Several mite species infest jasmines and cause significant damage. Mites are extremely small and are difficult to see without a microscope or magnifying lens. These tiny organisms puncture the skin of leaves and stems and feed on their host's sap. The jasmine eriophyid mite (Aceria jasmini) and red spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus) are both associated with leaf damage on jasmines. Uprooting and disposing of infected plants is often necessary to control an outbreak of these pests. Mite damage symptoms include discolored foliage, curling leaves and distorted growth.

Whiteflies

• Whiteflies (Dialeurodes kirkaldyi) are common pests of citrus fruit trees in warmer parts of the United States. They are also a jasmine pest. They feed by draining sap from their host's leaves, causing them to turn yellow and shrivel. Adult whiteflies are barely more than 1 mm long and are even smaller during earlier development stages. This insect is found through Africa, North America, Australia and Asia. It preys on both Confederate jasmine and true jasmine species.

Mealybugs

• Mealybugs are only a fraction of an inch long, but gather into clearly visible masses on the stems and leaves of jasmine and other host plants. They are not a serious pest, but can cause significant cosmetic damage that may lead put the plant's health at risk if not managed. They suck fluids from their host's tissues, causing leaves, flowers and new stems to wilt and die. According to the University of California, mealybugs secrete a substance called honeydew, which encourages the growth of an unsightly fungus called black sooty mold.