Pest identification
What's eating my astilbe 'bridal veil'?
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: Root-feeding grubs cause sudden wilting and plant collapse; notched leaf margins indicate adult feeding at night.
Control: Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to warm, moist soil in late summer. Check pot plants and borders for creamy white grubs when dividing clumps.
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Bronze stippling across leaflets with fine webbing underneath; worst in dry, hot conditions.
Control: Increase soil moisture and humidity around plants. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil, repeating every 5–7 days.
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects on young shoots, causing sticky honeydew deposits and distorted emerging growth.
Control: Squash small colonies by hand. Spray with insecticidal soap or a dilute neem oil solution. Attract beneficial predatory insects by planting nearby nectar plants.
Keep astilbe 'bridal veil' pest-free
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Astilbe 'Bridal Veil' pests — FAQ
What is eating my astilbe 'bridal veil'?
Astilbe 'Bridal Veil' (Astilbe × arendsii) shares the genus's general resistance to deer and slugs. The biggest genuine threats are vine weevil larvae tunnelling through roots and spider mites in hot dry summers. Aphids occasionally cluster on tender growth but rarely cause lasting damage.
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on astilbe 'bridal veil'?
Root-feeding grubs cause sudden wilting and plant collapse; notched leaf margins indicate adult feeding at night. Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to warm, moist soil in late summer. Check pot plants and borders for creamy white grubs when dividing clumps.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on astilbe 'bridal veil'?
Bronze stippling across leaflets with fine webbing underneath; worst in dry, hot conditions. Increase soil moisture and humidity around plants. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil, repeating every 5–7 days.
How do I get rid of aphids on astilbe 'bridal veil'?
Soft-bodied insects on young shoots, causing sticky honeydew deposits and distorted emerging growth. Squash small colonies by hand. Spray with insecticidal soap or a dilute neem oil solution. Attract beneficial predatory insects by planting nearby nectar plants.