Caterpillars munching their way through a Viburnum shrub

Shouldn't have ticked on the 'like', they are doing so much damage.

Its not sword fly larva is it Amy I had these on my gooseberry bush some years ago and destroyed it.

Yes they do Sue , No 3p , I've found out its the Viburnham leaf Beetle ..Pyrrhalta viburni ....

Viburnum beetle overwinters as eggs that are deposited in the bark of stems in late summer. These eggs hatch in late April-early May and the larvae begin feeding on the new foliage. When fully fed in late May-June, the larvae go into the soil to pupate. Adult beetles emerge in late summer and after mating, deposit batches of eggs in the woody stems.

Most of the damage is caused by the larvae during late spring. Adult feeding damage on the foliage is much less extensive than that of the larvae...

Apparently the plant survives but looks horrid ...

Thank you for explaing Amy cant you cut your Virburnum right back to get new growth.

Thats what i'm planning on doing 3p ....

I hope it does well it should do you will just have to keep your eye on it next year.

Oh no! The little b****rs! Hope the shrub recovers.