What's eating my bouquet dill?

Bouquet dill, grown widely for its large seed heads, attracts black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars as a preferred host. Aphids target soft stems and umbels. Carrot fly is a root threat in spring. Its open flowers draw beneficial predatory insects, which naturally suppress aphid populations.

Voracious striped caterpillars consume leaves and stems; in small plantings, entire crop can be lost Hand-pick; apply Bt kurstaki; plant dill in generous stands so yield losses are tolerable

Colonies on stems and umbels; stunts flower head development; attracts ants that farm aphids and deter predators Blast with water; use companion planting (marigolds, yarrow) to attract hoverflies; insecticidal soap if needed

Maggots damage roots causing yellowing and wilting; most severe on seedlings and young plants Fine mesh barriers from germination; delay sowing to miss the first fly generation (mid-May UK, late May US)