Pest identification
What's eating my canary creeper?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew and distorted new growth.
Control: Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
Caterpillars / cabbage white larvae
Signs: Ragged holes or complete leaf loss on lobed foliage; frass visible beneath leaves.
Control: Hand-pick eggs and larvae; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavier infestations.
Flea beetles
Signs: Numerous small, round shot-holes across leaves, especially seedlings.
Control: Use fine insect-mesh netting over young plants; diatomaceous earth around the base deters adults.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular silvery-trailed holes in leaves and stems overnight, worst on young growth.
Control: Set beer traps; apply iron phosphate pellets (safe around wildlife); hand-collect at dusk.
Keep canary creeper pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Canary creeper pests — FAQ
What is eating my canary creeper?
Canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) is attacked by the same pests that target nasturtiums: aphids are the chief threat, clustering on tender shoots and buds. Caterpillars, slugs, and cabbage white butterfly larvae also cause damage. Flea beetles may pepper leaves with small holes, especially on young plants in warm spells.
How do I get rid of aphids on canary creeper?
Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew and distorted new growth. Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of caterpillars / cabbage white larvae on canary creeper?
Ragged holes or complete leaf loss on lobed foliage; frass visible beneath leaves. Hand-pick eggs and larvae; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavier infestations.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on canary creeper?
Numerous small, round shot-holes across leaves, especially seedlings. Use fine insect-mesh netting over young plants; diatomaceous earth around the base deters adults.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on canary creeper?
Irregular silvery-trailed holes in leaves and stems overnight, worst on young growth. Set beer traps; apply iron phosphate pellets (safe around wildlife); hand-collect at dusk.