by Leslie Cox; Thursday; September 21, 2017

While harvesting my aronia berries (Aronia melanocarpa) recently, I noticed lots of the leaves on my shrub had tan chew holes on the upper surface. What the heck???

Taking a closer look at the leaves, I eventually discovered the culprit. It was a cherry slug…also known as pear slug, cherry slugworm (UK), and pear slugworm (UK). This small, slimy, slug-like creature is the larval stage of the adult cherry sawfly…or pear sawfly.

I do not think there is any differentiation between the cherry and pear slugs as both are known in Latin by the genus and species names: Caliroa cerasi. Perhaps the cherry and pear moniker is mainly to identify the host plant.

But who knows? Officially, “pear slug” is the recognized common name. I have taken liberties and called my pear slugs “cherry slugs” since they were on my aronia shrub, commonly called…you got it! It’s a chokecherry!!

You will find more really awesome information about this pest in the “Insects We Have Found” section under “In the Garden” on the main menu bar. (Or click on the quick link here.)