What's eating my dahlia 'bishop of llandaff'?

Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' draws earwigs, aphids, slugs, and thrips just like other dahlias. The dark foliage does not deter pests. Earwigs disfigure the scarlet blooms overnight, and aphid colonies colonise the lush purple-black stems quickly in warm weather. Weekly checks and earwig traps are the minimum care routine.

Petals peppered with ragged holes; earwigs tuck inside flower heads during daylight and feed on petals at night. Set rolled newspaper or straw-filled pots as traps; empty each morning; remove plant debris that harbours daytime roosts.

Green or black aphid colonies on growing tips and stems; distorted foliage, sticky deposits, and sooty mould. Blast with water jet; follow up with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until populations collapse.

Young shoots and emerging tuber growth eaten at soil level; slime trails visible overnight on ground and stems. Apply iron phosphate pellets near the base; sink beer traps at ground level; mulch with sharp grit around the crown.

Petals and upper leaf surfaces show pale silver streaking; blooms may be distorted or fail to open properly. Use spinosad-based spray; hang blue sticky traps as early-warning monitors; remove and destroy heavily infested flower heads.