Bugs on a Virginia Creeper

Leafhoppers

• Leafhoppers are tiny insects that pierce plant tissue to feed on fluids in the leaves and stem. The grape leafhopper (Erythroneura comes) is a pale yellow insect with red wing markings. It rarely exceeds 1/8 inch in length, so you may need a magnifying glass to see it. Suspect a leafhopper infestation if the leaves of your Virginia creeper are covered with tiny white spots. If leafhoppers are found, contact your county extension service or garden center for advice on a suitable insecticide.

Moth Caterpillars

• Several types of moths use Virginia creeper leaves as food for their caterpillars. The Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth has gray and brown bands and feeds not only on Virginia creeper but grapes and porcelain berries as well. The Giant Leopard Moth also uses Virginia creeper leaves as a food source. Moths rarely damage plants significantly, so just enjoy their fleeting beauty.

Scale

• Scales are hard-bodied insects that attach themselves to the leaves and stems of plants to extract the plant juices. The magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum) is a common type of scale that attacks Virginia creeper. Look for 1/2-inch, dark brown to pinkish-orange scales along plant stems and branches, usually on the underside of 1- or 2-year-old growth. You may also see black sooty mold on the plant, a fungal disease that grows on the honeydew secreted by the scales. Infected branches should be removed and the plant sprayed with horticultural oil in fall.

Beetles

• Virginia creeper is an alternate host for the grape flea beetle (Altica chalybea), a native insect that attacks the buds of grapevines and Virginia creeper in the spring. New growth is stunted and no flowers or berries are produced. The best control is to clean up leaf litter in the fall, because adult flea beetles overwinter among fallen leaves. Bad infestations can be controlled with an insecticide.