What's eating my begonia 'corbeille de feu'?

Begonia 'Corbeille de Feu' is a tuberous or trailing flowering begonia typically grown outdoors or in conservatories. It faces aphids, slugs, and vine weevils outdoors. Its bright flowers can also attract caterpillars. Slugs cause the most damage to stems at soil level, especially in cool, damp conditions.

Irregular holes in leaves and ragged damage at soil level on stems, often with a silvery slime trail. Use copper tape around containers, set beer traps, apply ferric phosphate pellets (pet-safe), and check under pots nightly.

Dense colonies on new shoots and flower buds; sticky honeydew and sooty mould reduce flowering. Knock off with a water jet; introduce ladybird (ladybug) larvae or apply insecticidal soap spray every four to five days.

Adults notch leaf margins at night; larvae feed on tuberous roots underground, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse. Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/autumn; use sticky barriers on pot rims; inspect roots when repotting.

Large irregular holes in leaves; frass (droppings) visible on foliage near feeding sites. Hand-pick caterpillars in the evening; apply a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for persistent infestations.