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What Types of Bugs Destroy the Columbine Flower?
What Types of Bugs Destroy the Columbine Flower?. The insect pests feeding on your columbine may be determined by your geographical region and the cultivar of columbine. Columbine are members of the Ranunculaceae group, commonly known as the buttercup family. Plants vary in color and shape of flowers. Parts of Colorado columbine were utilized by...
The insect pests feeding on your columbine may be determined by your geographical region and the cultivar of columbine. Columbine are members of the Ranunculaceae group, commonly known as the buttercup family. Plants vary in color and shape of flowers. Parts of Colorado columbine were utilized by Native Americans to treat general illness and a variety of maladies from head lice to stomach cramps.
Leaf Miners
Leaf miners damage columbine growing up and down the east coast by eating the leaves of the plant. The insects leave tracks on the leaves that resemble curved trails. Cornell University recommends checking columbine grown in the northeast in June to remove any leaves infested by leaf miners. Continue to check the plants throughout summer months, removing infested leaves to prevent further damage to the plants. Check plants grown further south for leaf miner damage in May.
Sawfly Larvae
Small green caterpillars seen on your columbine are likely to be the larvae of the sawfly. A species of sawfly is called the columbine sawfly due to its propensity for attacking the plant. Sawfly larvae damage leaves in late spring, starting by chewing outer leaf edges, then moving inward to the center of the leaf. They leave the mid-veins of the leaf untouched. Sawfly larvae are active during spring months in the Midwest. Hand-pick sawfly larvae or use insecticidal soap as a means of control.
Broad Mites
The tiny broad mite is known to feed on columbine. With the females of the species being larger than the males, broad mites measure no more than 0.2 mm long. The oval-shaped insects appear white to the naked eye and have a fast reproductive and maturity rate. Due to the mite's vast numbers, control is best accomplished with insecticidal soap.
Other Considerations
Columbine are a draw for beneficial butterflies, moth hawks, bees and hummingbirds. A variety of columbine fairly resistant to common diseases and pests is red columbine, also known as wild columbine, Canada columbine and American columbine. Red columbine is pollinated by hummingbirds and, in some regions, bees. Native to eastern and central North America, it is considered an endangered plant in Florida.
