What Is Eating My Bougainvillea Leaves? Get Answers Here! 

Are you seeing damage on your bougainvillea leaves? Like something’s been chomping and munching away? I’m not talking about a few little nibbles here and there, but some serious feasting. I’ll show you what might be causing the damage so you can identify the pest and take action.

I’ve had two bougainvilleas in my Santa Barbara garden (California) and now have four here in Tucson (Arizona). I’ve learned a lot about them from working at a nursery in Berkeley, but mostly through hands-on experience. They’re relatively easy to maintain, except for the pruning, which I happen to enjoy (yes, it’s true!). And you can’t beat them for an all-out show of color.

There are a few pests that attack bougainvilleas that I’ve briefly covered in previous posts and videos, so it’s time to take a closer look at the most common culprits.

Three Possible Bougainvillea Pests

Leaf Cutter Bee

This one is very easy to identify because you’ll see large, even chomps—like half-moons—taken out of the sides of the leaves. You rarely see the leaf cutter bee itself because it quickly chews out a piece of leaf and flies away. You may also see them referred to as the leaf cutting bee or leafcutter bee.

I never saw leaf cutter bees in Santa Barbara, but I did notice them on one of my bougainvilleas here in Tucson in the spring. The damage wasn’t extensive, but it was enough for me to notice. It’s now the very end of August, and lo and behold, I found another leaf with the telltale evidence so I could show you.

When to keep your eye out for leaf cutter bees: spring.

What you should do: NOTHING. Leaf cutter bees are beneficial pollinators, and we need them. The bougainvillea leaves will grow back as they’re always putting out new foliage. The bees focused on gathering pieces of foliage to build their nests, so there’s no need to worry about them. 

They can’t be bothered with us humans, so you don’t have to worry about being stung!

Evidence of leaf cutter bees. My how neatly they eat the leaf edges!

2 Types Of Caterpillars

The pests below are caterpillars, which means they eat like crazy. There are many different types of caterpillars, and they’re all hungry critters. The damage caused by these bougainvillea caterpillars can vary somewhat, but the treatment is generally the same.

All caterpillars—not just these two—eat and poop like crazy, so the little black specks you’ll see on the leaves are their frass. And yes, insect excrement has its own word! Here’s a heads-up: those black droppings are often a sure sign that caterpillars are in the house.

When to keep your eye out for caterpillars: summer.

These are the two caterpillars I’ve seen on my bougainvilleas and have experience dealing with:

Leaftier Caterpillar

I didn’t see these on my bougainvilleas in Santa Barbara, although they can be found there. I’ve only dealt with them here in Tucson. They protect themselves by hiding inside the leaves, rolling them up, and securing them with silky threads.

After the caterpillars are gone, you can unroll a leaf and still see evidence of those threads on the undersides. From what I’ve observed, the damage is usually concentrated at the ends of the stems where the new growth is.

Leaf tier caterpillar damage. The arrow points to the caterpillar, which I unrolled from the leaf. You can see the webbing, which looks like threads of silk.

Here’s the damage done to the ends of a stem by the leaftier. You can see how 1 of the leaves is rolled up.

Bougainvillea Looper

These are the most common chewing pests that attack bougainvilleas, at least in my experience. My Bougainvillea glabra in Santa Barbara had loopers every year, big time, by late July. They’re inchworms and can be brown, green, or yellow, depending on their age. They’re also hard to spot because they hang out under the leaves and feed mostly at night.

From what I’ve seen, these tiny creatures do much more damage than leaftier caterpillars. They chew extensively on both old and new leaves, which can eventually look like delicate lace or disappear altogether. I’ve never seen bougainvillea loopers cause leaf curl.

Here’s what the bougainvillea looper looks like: basically a small green inchworm. In the video, you can see the damage the cabbage looper did to my mint. It looks similar to the damage this looper does.

Bougainvillea Tutorial Package

Got questions about growing bougainvillea? We’ve got the answers!

Check out our in-depth Bougainvillea Guide, designed to help you grow this beautiful plant with confidence. Click the link to learn more. Happy growing!

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Treatment For These Caterpillars on Your Bougainvillea Leaves

These pests don’t harm or endanger the health of an established plant. The damage is cosmetic. Bougainvilleas shed and regrow their foliage a couple of times a year, so new leaves will eventually replace the damaged ones. From what I’ve seen, the older leaves aren’t affected as much. That fresh new growth is nice and tender, making it especially appealing to hungry caterpillars!

On the other hand, a young plant could be more susceptible to a bad infestation, but should still recover. Bougainvillea pests remain host-specific and won’t spread to other plants in your garden,

Here are your three options for treating these bougainvillea pests:

1.) Do Nothing

My bougainvilleas are well established, and the damage doesn’t bother me, regardless of which caterpillar is responsible. The caterpillars eventually hatch into moths, fly away, and then I typically won’t see them again until the following year. 

That being said, I eventually pruned off the unattractive leaves damaged by the leaftier caterpillars. As for the loopers, I let them be. My Bougainvillea glabra in Santa Barbara was so full and dense (you can see it in the lead photo) that the damage was hardly noticeable unless I looked closely.

2.) Remove Them by Hand

This method is labor-intensive, but it can be done over time. It’s much easier to manage leaftier caterpillars because you can usually find them tucked inside the rolled-up leaves during the day, protected by their silky covering.

Bougainvillea loopers are much harder to spot because they hide under the leaves and do most of their feeding at night. Hand-picking them is certainly possible, but it can be a tedious task!

3.) Spray the Leaves

BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a naturally occurring bacteria that makes caterpillars, including bougainvillea loopers, sick and ultimately causes them to die. It’s considered a natural pesticide. When I worked at a nursery, this was the product we always recommended for controlling caterpillars.

Another option is neem oil. It’s reported to help control caterpillars, although I don’t have any firsthand experience using it for this purpose. 

If you choose to use a spray, my advice is to start early before the infestation becomes severe. Reapply as directed if the caterpillars return. Be sure to spray where the caterpillars are feeding for the treatment to be effective. Even though these products are generally considered safer for beneficial insects, it’s best to spray around dusk when pollinators and other beneficial insects are less active.

A heads-up: Caterpillars require different treatment from many common garden pests. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oil won’t be effective, so don’t waste your time or money on them.

Useful Bougainvillea Resources

Bougainvillea Plant Care

Planting Bougainvillea

Mastering Bougainvillea

Growing Bougainvillea in Pots

Bougainvillea Pruning Guide

Bougainvillea Winter Care Tips

Answering Your Questions About Bougainvillea

Good to Know

I’ve noticed that these pests don’t seem to attack the flowers or colorful bracts, and that’s a very good thing. We want that explosion of color that bougainvilleas are known for!

I’ve also never seen these pests spread to other plants in my garden. Whether you choose to treat them or not, I encourage you to do a little additional research to determine what’s best for you, your plant, and the environment.

To help you tell them apart:

• Leaf cutter bees = distinctive half-moon cuts in the leaves, but they’re harmless and beneficial.
• Leaftier caterpillars = rolled leaves held together with silky threads.
• Bougainvillea loopers = the real foliage-munching champions!

Bougainvillea Leaves FAQs

Will bougainvillea pests spread to my vegetables or other plants?

No. Bougainvillea loopers and leaftier caterpillars are considered host-specific pests that feed on bougainvillea foliage. In my experience, I’ve never seen them spread to vegetables, herbs, or other ornamental plants growing nearby.

Leaf cutter bees are a different story. They may cut pieces from the leaves of many different plants to build their nests, but they cause only minor cosmetic damage and are valuable pollinators. Leave them be—they’ll eventually fly off and be on their way.

How long does it take for damaged bougainvillea leaves to recover?

Bougainvilleas naturally shed and regrow their foliage throughout the year. I know because I’ve raked and swept up plenty of bougainvillea leaves over the years!

Damaged leaves won’t repair themselves. Over time, they’ll eventually drop, and healthy new growth will replace them. From what I’ve observed, established bougainvilleas recover well from this type of cosmetic damage and continue growing and blooming as usual.

Exact timing varies depending on the season, climate, and growing conditions, but once fresh new growth appears, the plant starts to look better quickly.

Will these bougainvillea pests attack the blooms?

No. In my experience, all three pests discussed here target only the foliage. They don’t feed on or damage the colorful bracts (the modified leaves that give bougainvillea its color) or the true flowers, which are the white centers.

Your color display will still shine through even during an active infestation, which is why many gardeners choose not to treat established plants unless the damage becomes severe.

Is there a way to prevent these pests from appearing?

Leaf cutter bees, leaftier caterpillars, and bougainvillea loopers are native insects with specific seasonal cycles, making complete prevention unrealistic. They tend to come and go seasonally.

If you had heavy damage the previous season, you can try applying a preventative BT spray a couple of weeks before peak activity. Keeping your bougainvillea healthy with proper watering and pruning also helps the plant better tolerate any damage.

Should I remove leaves that have been chewed or damaged?

If you’d like. I leave the lightly damaged leaves on the plant and prune off the heavily damaged, unsightly leaves after the pests have flown on their merry way. Damaged leaves won’t miraculously repair themselves, but new healthy growth will replace them.

How can I inspect my bougainvillea for pests more effectively?

Check both sides of the leaves and inspect new growth early in the morning or after sunset, when most pests are active.

Could sunburn or wind damage be mistaken for insect damage on bougainvillea leaves?

Yes. In hot, sunny, or windy climates, leaves can become torn, scorched, or ragged-looking, which is sometimes mistaken for pest damage.

Why is my bougainvillea losing leaves? I don’t see any insects.

I threw this one in just for fun! Bougainvillea leaf drop can be caused by water stress (overwatering or underwatering), transplant shock, temperature changes, or seasonal stress rather than pests. Also, bougainvilleas naturally shed leaves a couple of times a year. I know, I raked and swept up many a bougie leaf!

Video Guide

Conclusion: If you’ve been wondering, What is eating my bougainvillea leaves?, identifying the culprit is the first step toward solving the problem. Whether you’re seeing holes in bougainvillea leaves, chewed edges, rolled up leaves, webbing, or other visible damage, a close inspection can often reveal the pest responsible. 

While leaf cutter bees, leaftier caterpillars, and bougainvillea loopers can all leave their mark on the leaves of bougainvillea plants, established plants bounce back just fine. Keep an eye out for damage and take action if needed. Let the blooms continue!

Check Out Our Tutorial: Mastering Bougainvillea

Happy gardening,

• About the Author
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Nell Foster

Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.

www.joyusgarden.com/about/

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