Pest identification
What's eating my black beauty aubergine?
Flea beetle (Epitrix spp.)
Signs: Hundreds of tiny shot-holes peppered across leaves; heavy attack on seedlings can cause defoliation.
Control: Cover transplants with fine mesh until established; diatomaceous earth around stems; pyrethrin spray if >20% leaf area affected.
Glasshouse whitefly
Signs: Sticky honeydew and sooty mould on leaves and fruits; clouds of white insects fly up when plant is disturbed.
Control: Introduce Encarsia formosa before populations build; yellow sticky traps for monitoring; insecticidal soap for adults.
Two-spotted spider mite
Signs: Fine pale stippling on upper leaf surface; webbing under leaves in hot, dry weather; leaves bronze and drop.
Control: Raise humidity; release Phytoseiulus persimilis or Neoseiulus californicus; avoid water stress which worsens infestations.
Aphids (Myzus persicae — green peach aphid)
Signs: Dense colonies on growing tips; honeydew attracts sooty mould; virus transmission reduces yield.
Control: Introduce parasitic wasps (Aphidius colemani); strong water jets; insecticidal soap or neem oil as a backup.
Keep black beauty aubergine pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Black Beauty Aubergine pests — FAQ
What is eating my black beauty aubergine?
Black Beauty aubergine is a magnet for flea beetles outdoors and whitefly under glass. Both can devastate young plants. Spider mites and aphids are secondary concerns in warm conditions. Use row cover at transplant, introduce biological controls early in the greenhouse, and inspect foliage weekly.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (epitrix spp.) on black beauty aubergine?
Hundreds of tiny shot-holes peppered across leaves; heavy attack on seedlings can cause defoliation. Cover transplants with fine mesh until established; diatomaceous earth around stems; pyrethrin spray if >20% leaf area affected.
How do I get rid of glasshouse whitefly on black beauty aubergine?
Sticky honeydew and sooty mould on leaves and fruits; clouds of white insects fly up when plant is disturbed. Introduce Encarsia formosa before populations build; yellow sticky traps for monitoring; insecticidal soap for adults.
How do I get rid of two-spotted spider mite on black beauty aubergine?
Fine pale stippling on upper leaf surface; webbing under leaves in hot, dry weather; leaves bronze and drop. Raise humidity; release Phytoseiulus persimilis or Neoseiulus californicus; avoid water stress which worsens infestations.
How do I get rid of aphids (myzus persicae — green peach aphid) on black beauty aubergine?
Dense colonies on growing tips; honeydew attracts sooty mould; virus transmission reduces yield. Introduce parasitic wasps (Aphidius colemani); strong water jets; insecticidal soap or neem oil as a backup.