What's eating my coral bells 'caramel'?

Coral Bells 'Caramel' is a garden perennial threatened mainly by black vine weevil — grubs tunnel through roots and crowns underground while adults notch leaf margins at night. Mealybugs, foliar nematodes, and voles round out the threat list. Deer and rabbits largely ignore Heuchera.

Adults leave scalloped notches along leaf edges; larvae eat small roots and tunnel into the crown, causing plants to collapse or die back in spring. Apply beneficial nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late summer to kill larvae; use a systemic insecticide drench early season for severe adult infestations.

White, waxy clusters congregate in leaf axils and stem joints, sucking sap and leaving plants weak and stunted. Dab individual colonies with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil for larger infestations.

Yellow then brown angular dead patches between leaf veins; spots spread outward, giving foliage a tattered look. No pesticide is labeled for foliar nematodes. Remove and bin affected leaves promptly, keep foliage dry, and avoid overhead watering to slow spread.

Underground feeding on roots and crowns causes plants to loosen, wilt, and pull easily from the soil. Install hardware-cloth root guards around crowns when planting; use snap traps in active surface runways near the plant base.