Insects on Wisteria

Aphids

• Aphids can be various shades of black, brown, green, red or yellow. They can also be smooth, fuzzy or waxy looking, and some of them have wings. All aphids have small pear-shaped bodies, long legs, antennae and two tiny tubular cornicles that protrude from their rears. They bite into the leaves and stems of wisteria to consume the sap. They excrete a clear, sticky liquid known as honeydew. Ants eat the honeydew and are often found near aphids. Other signs of aphids are curling and yellowing of the leaves. Leaves may appear distorted and new shoots may be stunted. Insecticidal soap can be used to control aphids. Parasitic wasps, lacewings and syrphid flies are aphids' natural enemies.

Beetles

• Rose chafers and Japanese beetles attack wisteria. Rose chafers eat the flowers in May, and Japanese beetles eat the leaves in July and August. Both adult beetles are approximately 1/2 inch long. The rose chafer is tan or yellow. Japanese beetles are metallic green with copper-colored wing covers. There are many insecticides available to control these beetles.

Borers

• Longhorned spotted tree borers are beetles that usually only attack wisteria vines injured and already dying. The adults are about 1 1/2 inches long and have dark gray bodies with black markings. Holes in the vine bark accompanied by oozing sap or stains, wilted discolored leaves and dying branches are indications of an attack. Pesticides are not useful against spotted tree borers.

Lantern Flies

• Lantern flies, also known as mealy flata, are small sucking insects that attack wisteria. They are approximately 1/4 inch long and either pale blue-green or brown with a white powdery film. While they do lay their eggs in tiny cracks in the wisteria vine's bark, they do not generally cause much harm. If they do become bothersome, insecticidal soap, malathion or imidacloprid may be used to exterminate them.

Leafhoppers

• Potato leafhoppers are triangular-shaped yellowish green or green insects that attack wisteria vines. They are approximately 1/8 inch long. The adults have wings but the young do not. They suck the plant juices from the undersides of leaves, leaving a white stippling. The leaves will sometimes curl, turn yellow and then brown. This is a condition known as "hopperburn." Insecticidal soap or pesticides containing pyrethrum, carbaryl or imidacloprid can be useful in eliminating this pest.

Scale

• Calico scale is a type of soft scale that can infest wisteria. They are less than 1/4 inch long with oval-shaped bodies. The adults are white with black markings. The young are small, flat orange or yellow ovals. Wisteria scale is an armored scale insect that attacks wisteria vines. They are flat, brown and can be up to 1/3 inch in diameter. Scale infestations can cause wisteria leaves to become yellow, wilt and drop from the vine. The leaves and branches may have small irregular, circular blemishes. Calico scale insects excrete honeydew similar to aphids. Horticultural oil, insecticidal soap and other chemical pesticides can be used to eliminate them. Parasitic wasps, lady beetles, lacewings and mites are their natural enemies.