Beetle Mania

No, not this- I was at primary school when screaming at John, Paul, George and Ringo was in fashion [1963-66]
But I am developing a mania [of the negative sort] about beetles right now.

We returned from a glorious day out, family picnic in the park, and I went to the front door to check for parcels. I looked at my rosemary bush and it was shining. It was covered in tiny little beetles - like ladybirds but with bronze/blue iridescent stripes. They were beautiful.

Bob went inside to check them out on the RHS website. He returned bearing less than cheerful news. The website was full of helpful information about the Rosemary Beetle aka Chrysolina Americana. 

A nasty little pest related to the Colorado Beetle. It arrived in Central London in the 1990s and is now widespread across the UK. [YouTube explanation here] The RHS are monitoring this carefully. [I really hope they do not reach the Norfolk Lavender Centre up at Heacham] Bob filled in their survey and sent photos of some of our affected plants. These pests eat not just rosemary, but also sage and lavender. Guess what is in our front bed? Exactly - those three- plus roses and a passionflower. And the beetles just chomp away at the foliage and flowers. 

My poor shrubs! Smothered in the things. The website says there is little that can be done. Nasty pesticides may also harm bees and 'good' insect life. I won't use them. So I'm supposed to pick them off one by one and drop them in soapy water. So I did that - but also cut off some of the branches which were thick with pests.

This rosemary is descended from one in a pot which I acquired in 1983 - before Steph was born. Despite my lack of green fingers, I have managed to root cuttings and leave healthy rosemary plants in five other gardens besides this one. It is pretty special to me. That's the bush I left back in Kirby Muxloe

The site says that the shrubs may survive. Or not. I rang Jenny, my Orchid-Mentor, in a panic. Would it be possible for her to nip round to the Ferndown Manse and take a cutting from that shrub please? Unfortunately not - the Church Work Party have done all the necessary jobs and fixed windows etc and the new temporary tenants moved in last week [Manses are often let out on short-term contracts in between ministers] 

But she suggested that I take four cuttings from my plant here- looking for healthy sprigs and avoiding the beetles. and hope that at least one of them takes root. I have to say that when I went back outside to do this, there were already 5 more beetles back on the shrubs. That's despite my diligent removal of all that I could find, and a serious baptism of fresh soapy water.[and I am a Baptist - so that means lots of water, not a mere sprinkling] 

Thank you Jenny for the suggestion. Lets hope it works. I take heart from the fact that one of the orchids is bursting into bloom again. I will get to grips with plants one day!

Do you have any experience of Rosemary Beetle, and how did you deal with it? Please tell me your shrubs survived.