Aggregative-oviposition
Guides
Pyrrhalta viburni
Viburnum leaf beetle
Pyrrhalta viburni, the viburnum leaf beetle, is a Eurasian leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) that has become a significant invasive pest in North America. Native to Europe and Asia, it was first detected in Canada in 1947 and spread to the northeastern United States by 1996. The beetle is a specialist herbivore of Viburnum shrubs, with both larvae and adults feeding on foliage. Severe infestations can completely defoliate host plants, leading to plant decline or death. The species exhibits distinctive aggregative oviposition behavior, with females preferentially laying eggs on twigs already containing conspecific egg masses.