What's eating my begonia × semperflorens-cultorum 'cocktail vodka'?

Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum 'Cocktail Vodka' is a wax begonia with bronze foliage used extensively in outdoor bedding. Slugs are the primary pest, shredding soft leaves and flowers. Aphids and thrips are common in summer. Vine weevils can be a problem in containers. Deer and rabbits generally avoid begonias.

Holes and scalloped edges in fleshy leaves and flowers; silvery mucus trails on foliage and surrounding soil. Apply iron-phosphate pellets; hand-pick at dusk; use diatomaceous earth or copper tape around pots; keep surrounding soil clear of debris.

Green or black colonies on new growth and flower clusters; leaves yellow and curl; honeydew promotes sooty mold on bronze foliage. Spray with a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap; neem oil works well for persistent outbreaks.

Adults notch leaf margins; larvae devour roots in containers, causing plants to wilt and die without obvious above-ground cause. Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to container compost in late summer; inspect roots; use gritty compost and avoid overwatering.