What's eating my butterfly gladiolus?

Butterfly Gladiolus (Gladiolus papilio) is vulnerable to thrips, which create silvery streaks on its distinctive hooded flowers and foliage. Aphids attack soft growth, and slugs can damage emerging shoots. As a spreading, clump-forming species it is more robust than tender hybrids but still warrants monitoring for thrips from midsummer onward.

Silver or bronze streaking on leaves; petals scarred with pale stippling; flowers distorted. Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap at first signs; use blue sticky traps; remove heavily infested leaves.

Clusters on young stems and buds; honeydew and sooty mould; stunted growth. Blast off with water; apply neem oil; encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.

Holes in young emerging shoots; slime trails on foliage and soil. Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick at night; reduce moisture-retaining mulch near the crown.