Honeysuckle Aphid

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The honeysuckle aphid is a small cream to pale green color insect that generally feed in-groups on new plant growth. Several hundred aphids may feed on a single branch tip. Their feeding causes the leaves to fold in half giving them their name, the honeysuckle leaf-folding aphid.

They are a sucking type insect that can draw the sap out of plant tissue. This causes the distorted growth. It can cause the honeysuckle shoots to develop small, weak, side shoots at the branch tips. They usually do not kill the plant but they can make it look ugly. If a plant is infested year after year it will become stunted and may die.

The aphid is especially fond of Tartarian type honeysuckles. Others are somewhat resistant. So one control would be to not plant cultivars of the Tatarian honeysuckle. For aphid control insecticidal soaps can be sprayed before the leaf fold. Make your first application, just as the buds begin to swell and small leaves emerge, usually around late April or early May. Spray weekly throughout the summer. Insecticides may be used but are not very effective once the leaves fold over. Several insecticides are available, check the label for to see if aphids are listed. Contact your county Extension office, the Master Gardener hotline or your local nursery for more information.

Tom Fowler, FowlerT@missouri.edu
Regional Specialist, Agriculture and Horticulture
Buchanan County, MO
University of Missouri Extension