What's eating my allium schubertii?

Allium schubertii's pungent foliage deters most common pests, but allium leaf miner can damage the leaves before the dramatic flower heads develop. Onion thrips occasionally mark the foliage. Slugs may attack newly emerging shoots. Once the dried seed heads form, birds sometimes pick at the papery florets.

White dotted feeding lines and larval tunnels in foliage and stems; leaves yellow and plants weaken. Cover with fine fleece netting during spring adult flight period. Dig up and destroy infested bulbs; don't compost.

Silvery-white flecking and streaking on strap-like leaves; tips may brown. Remove damaged foliage; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid water stress which increases susceptibility.

Ragged holes eaten into soft emerging leaves in spring, particularly after rain. Scatter iron phosphate pellets at planting time; hand-pick at night; improve drainage around bulb sites.