Sure, barberries (Berberis) have those wicked sharp thorns and are actually pretty toxic in almost every part of the plant, but don’t let that fool you! Even with those built-in defenses, these shrubs aren’t invincible when it comes to garden pests.
Common Barberry Pests
Even though they’re tough, barberries can still become a snack for a few specific critters. The usual suspects you’ll want to keep an eye out for are:
- Caterpillars
- Barberry sawflies
- Scale insects and aphids
- Barberry fruit flies
Dealing with Caterpillars
Caterpillars are probably the most common uninvited guests you’ll find munching on your barberry. If you notice a major infestation, a radical pruning of your barberry can actually do wonders. This helps you physically remove a huge chunk of the population at various life stages all at once. Pro tip: Spread a tarp or cloth under the bush before you start cutting to catch any falling larvae, then toss them straight into the trash.
If the caterpillars have already stripped your shrub bare, though, you might need to look into more intensive control methods to save the plant.
The Barberry Sawfly
If you spot barberry sawfly larvae hanging out on your shrub, your best bet is to hand-pick them off—you might need to do this a few times a day to stay on top of it. For a more “pro” approach, using a *Bacillus thuringiensis* (Bt) spray works great, or you can work some neem cake into the soil around the base of the plant to help deter them.
Butterfly and Moth Larvae
Besides sawflies, many butterfly and moth species like to use barberries as a nursery for their larvae. Since our pollinator populations are struggling a bit these days, I’d recommend holding off on any heavy-duty treatments unless the infestation is truly getting out of hand. A little nibbling usually won’t hurt a healthy shrub!
Scale Insects
Scale insects can be a bit tricky because of their protective shells. A classic gardener’s trick is to take a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol and wipe down the affected branches. The alcohol dissolves their waxy “shields,” causing the insects to dry out. You might need to repeat this a few times to get them all.
Aphids
Aphids are a garden staple, unfortunately. The easiest way to show them the exit is to spray the plant down with a simple mixture of insecticidal soap (or castile soap) and water. Give it a few applications over several days, and they should clear right up.
Barberry Fruit Flies
The barberry fruit fly works a lot like the cherry fruit fly, laying its eggs inside the berries. But here’s the cool part: the barberry plant is actually pretty smart! It can usually handle this one all on its own. The plant has a natural defense mechanism that can actually kill off the eggs inside the berries without any help from us. Nature is pretty amazing, right?
