Treatment for rosemary beetle

If we see feeding on the leaves of the rosemary and observe its shoots withering, we immediately check our plants for beetles. The rosemary beetle is one of the most characteristic insects that appear in spring and summer, causing significant damage to the aromatic plants of our garden and balcony.
It is a small striking insect of a metallic green color with elongated legs purple stripes, 5-8 mm long, with colored antennae. This particular beetle (Chrysolina americana) has small wings and does not fly long distances. In most cases we will see it just walking on leaves and shoots. Let’s see in detail, what problems the rosemary beetle causes, on which plants we meet, as well as 2 effective ways to treat it biologically.

1. What plants does the rosemary beetle attack? The rosemary beetle feeds on vegetation from various aromatic plants. We find it mainly in the cultivation of rosemary, but we will also see it in the cultivation of lavender, the cultivation of sage and the cultivation of thyme. In Mediterranean regions, female beetle insects lay their eggs in late summer on aromatic plants and gradually develop into new insects until spring.
2. What damage does the rosemary beetle cause? The rosemary beetle causes significant damage to plants as it feeds on the foliage of the plants starting at the top of the leaves, leaving a pale white appearance. It is important to detect the presence of the beetle in time and treat it before it multiplies and is transferred to neighboring plants.
3. How is the biological control of the rosemary beetle done? To deal with the rosemary beetle ecologically, we spray the foliage of the plants with organic insecticides such as summer pulp and natural pyrethrum that we get from agricultural stores. Alternatively, in cases of mild infestation, we can spray our plants with an improvised preparation that we make with homemade materials, dissolving 1 tablespoon of grated green soap and 1 teaspoon of alcohol in 1 liter of water.
4. And a secret about the rosemary beetle. Although this particular species of beetle is called Chrysolina americana, it is mainly found in southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East.