What's eating my cardinal climber?

Cardinal climber (a hybrid Ipomoea) shares the pest profile of its parent morning glories: tortoise beetles chew leaf holes, aphids cluster on new growth, and spider mites build up in dry heat. Its fine, deeply cut foliage makes tortoise beetle damage highly visible. Caterpillars including sphinx moth larvae can also strip stems in late summer.

Irregular holes eaten through the fine-lobed leaves; gold or dark adults and spiny larvae both feed on foliage. Hand-pick adults and larvae; apply pyrethrin or spinosad spray; destroy egg clusters on undersides of leaves.

Soft-bodied insects on growing tips; honeydew and sooty mold accumulate; new leaves curl and growth slows. Strong water jet; insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators; avoid excess nitrogen.

Silvery stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing under leaves; flares in hot, dry, or crowded conditions. Mist plant regularly; spray neem oil or miticide to undersides; improve spacing and air circulation.