Insects Are Eating the Leaves on My Trumpet Vine

Insects can cause damage to trumpet vines.

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) also called trumpet creeper is a perennial vine that can grow to 30 feet or more when given support. Trumpet vines bear yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and a pod-like fruit. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 4B to 10A and requires regular pruning to prevent it from becoming invasive. A number of pests may feed on the leaves of trumpet vine but rarely cause serious problems for the plant.

Aphids

Aphids are tiny insects with sharp mouthparts designed to suck the plant juices from leaves. Trumpet vines often have aphid infestations. Generally, these do not cause a problem unless the population of insects is large. The sticky "honeydew" produced by aphid feeding can cause sooty mold to grow on plants, according to Colorado State University entomologist W.S. Cranshaw. Aphids can be dislodged from the plant with a high-pressure spray of water. This action will encourage the insects to find a less disruptive place to live. Applying natural enemies of aphids such as ladybeetle is a better choice than using insecticides that can harm trumpet vines.

Ants

Aphids often attract ants, which will often be on trumpet vines. Ants can even be found "herding" the aphids to farm them for the honeydew they produce, protecting the aphids from predators. Treat the aphid problem and the ants will generally find a new source for honeydew elsewhere.

Scale Insects

Scale insects include three different types of pests, armored scale, soft-bodied scale and mealybugs. Any of these kinds can become a problem on trumpet vines. They are also sucking insects that sap the plant of juices as well as energy, causing stunted growth and decline of the plant. Parasitic wasps are a good biological control for severe scale infestations, according to the University of Florida website.

Planthoppers

Planthoppers may infest trumpet vines. These insects are often mistaken for small moths. Their sucking activity may cause "hopperburn" and browning of leaves. Planthoppers insert their eggs into the bark of the plant. These insects also produce honeydew that encourages the growth of sooty mold. Chemical control is not generally necessary.

Whiteflies

Whiteflies infest a number of garden plants, including trumpet vines. Several different varieties can become a problem for plants, including the silver whitefly, the greenhouse whitefly and the bandedwinged whitefly. They remove plant sap and causes stunting of growth. The application of natural predator species like ladybeetles or green lacewings can help to control the whitefly population, according to Texas A&M University. High-pressure water spray will also dislodge them from the vines.

References

• Colorado State University; Aphids on Shade Trees & Ornamentals; W.S. Cranshaw
• University of Florida Entomology Department: Scale Insects
• Texas A&M University: Whiteflies
• Fine Gardening: Genus Campsis