Smelly Bush being eaten?

Gardener Neil

I've noticed this bush having a really musty horrible smell and when I looked closer it's being eaten! Is it supposed to smell horrible?

Dovefromabove

I'm using an old phone at the moment and having problems downloading pics, 
but on the information given I suspect an infestation of the Viburnum beetle. 
If you google RHS viburnum beetle you'll find lots of info and advice. 

neilbradburn

Hi Neil. We've got the same problem. The shrub (a viburnum)  in our garden is next to a compost heap and my skills at managing the compost heap were being brought into question :-) Eventually, with a bit of googling I found out that the bush will smell when attacked by the viburnum beetle and it is wet.  

We're going to be pruning our bush back hard this autumn to try and get rid of the beetle. They overwinter in the stems, so hopefully this should pick them up.