Pest identification
What's eating my arisaema speciosum?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Torn or completely destroyed emerging spathe; large ragged holes in unfurling leaves.
Control: Place iron-phosphate pellets around corm emergence points; use physical grit or copper barriers; hand-pick nightly.
Aphids
Signs: Curling, sticky young leaves; aphid colonies on petioles; sooty mould may develop on honeydew.
Control: Spray with dilute insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce or attract beneficial predator insects.
Vine weevil
Signs: Notched leaf margins from adult beetles; corm eaten from below by creamy grubs, causing collapse.
Control: Apply nematode solution (Steinernema kraussei) as a soil drench in late summer or early autumn.
Keep arisaema speciosum pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Arisaema speciosum pests — FAQ
What is eating my arisaema speciosum?
Arisaema speciosum (spectacular cobra lily) is a Himalayan woodland aroid most threatened by slugs that devour its impressive striped spathe as it emerges. Aphids colonize soft growth, and vine weevil grubs attack the corm. Deer may browse the large leaves in open garden settings.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on arisaema speciosum?
Torn or completely destroyed emerging spathe; large ragged holes in unfurling leaves. Place iron-phosphate pellets around corm emergence points; use physical grit or copper barriers; hand-pick nightly.
How do I get rid of aphids on arisaema speciosum?
Curling, sticky young leaves; aphid colonies on petioles; sooty mould may develop on honeydew. Spray with dilute insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce or attract beneficial predator insects.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on arisaema speciosum?
Notched leaf margins from adult beetles; corm eaten from below by creamy grubs, causing collapse. Apply nematode solution (Steinernema kraussei) as a soil drench in late summer or early autumn.