Pest identification
What's eating my swiss chard?
Beet leaf miner (Pegomya hyoscyami)
Signs: Pale, papery blistered mines inside leaf tissue; leaves turn brown and shrivel
Control: Remove mined leaves; cover with mesh before egg-laying peak in spring; avoid growing near spinach or beet (same pest)
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Signs: Dense black colonies on stems and leaf undersides; honeydew and sooty mold
Control: Squash by hand; insecticidal soap spray; attract natural predators by growing flowering plants nearby
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in young leaves; seedlings severed at soil level overnight
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick after dark; mulch with sharp grit
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni)
Signs: Large irregular holes in leaves; green caterpillars found on undersides
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage
Keep swiss chard pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats beet — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats swiss chard — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common swiss chard problems & fixes
- Swiss Chard watering schedule
- Swiss Chard light requirements
- Full swiss chard care guide
Swiss Chard pests — FAQ
What is eating my swiss chard?
Swiss chard is targeted by beet leaf miners (blister mines on leaves), black bean aphids, slugs on young plants, and caterpillars such as cabbage loopers. Birds also peck tender leaves. As a leafy crop, any pest damage to the edible foliage is immediately obvious and economically significant. Leaf miner is the primary concern.
How do I get rid of beet leaf miner (pegomya hyoscyami) on swiss chard?
Pale, papery blistered mines inside leaf tissue; leaves turn brown and shrivel Remove mined leaves; cover with mesh before egg-laying peak in spring; avoid growing near spinach or beet (same pest)
How do I get rid of black bean aphid (aphis fabae) on swiss chard?
Dense black colonies on stems and leaf undersides; honeydew and sooty mold Squash by hand; insecticidal soap spray; attract natural predators by growing flowering plants nearby
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on swiss chard?
Ragged holes in young leaves; seedlings severed at soil level overnight Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick after dark; mulch with sharp grit
How do I get rid of cabbage looper (trichoplusia ni) on swiss chard?
Large irregular holes in leaves; green caterpillars found on undersides Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage