What’s eating my barberry bushes? - Ask Extension
Around this time of year my barberry bushes start getting eaten by something but I don’t see bugs or worms. Can you help determine what this is and ...
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What’s eating my barberry bushes? #809914
Asked September 08, 2022, 7:53 AM EDT
Around this time of year my barberry bushes start getting eaten by something but I don’t see bugs or worms. Can you help determine what this is and how to treat it? Thanks.
Frederick County Maryland
Expert Response
That looks like it may be caterpillar droppings, which perhaps was left behind by a nest of fall webworms.
We wouldn't worry about it and you do not need to treat for it.
In fact, Japanese Barberry has become a significant and serious invasive plant which can escape our gardens and threaten native habitats.
It has also been found to produce habitat that encourages the presence of ticks in the landscape.
Here is our page about it:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/japanese-barberry
We highly recommend replacing it with a native plant or another non-invasive shrub.
Christine
We wouldn't worry about it and you do not need to treat for it.
In fact, Japanese Barberry has become a significant and serious invasive plant which can escape our gardens and threaten native habitats.
It has also been found to produce habitat that encourages the presence of ticks in the landscape.
Here is our page about it:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/japanese-barberry
We highly recommend replacing it with a native plant or another non-invasive shrub.
Christine
