What's eating my candle larkspur?

Candle larkspur (Delphinium elatum) is most seriously damaged by slugs and snails, which destroy emerging shoots in spring. Aphids colonize flower spikes and fresh growth. Leaf miners and caterpillars (including delphinium moth larvae) tunnel or chew foliage. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid delphiniums, which are toxic to them.

Hollow out or sever young shoots at soil level in spring; holes in expanding leaves Protect shoots with copper collars; apply iron phosphate slug bait; check under pots and debris at night and remove

Dense colonies on flower spikes and new growth causing distortion, sticky honeydew, and sooty mould Spray off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce or attract aphid predators such as ladybugs

Caterpillars eat leaves, buds, and flowers from inside; look for rolled or webbed leaves and frass Remove and destroy caterpillars by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage in early evening

Pale winding tunnels visible inside leaf tissue; leaves turn yellow and dry out Remove affected leaves; avoid overhead watering; use yellow sticky traps to monitor adult fly populations