What's eating my 'castelfranco' radicchio?

Castelfranco radicchio faces slugs and snails as its chief outdoor enemy, alongside aphids on young growth and caterpillars from cabbage white butterflies. Rabbits and deer will readily graze leaves. Birds may peck at hearts. Netting and slug controls are the first line of defense.

Ragged holes in outer and inner leaves; seedlings can be destroyed overnight; characteristic slime trails Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants, use beer traps, hand-pick at dusk; ensure good drainage to reduce slug habitat

Dense colonies on undersides of leaves; distorted growth, yellowing, and sticky honeydew Remove by hand or water jet; apply insecticidal soap; introduce or encourage aphid predators such as ladybirds

Irregular holes eaten through leaves; frass (droppings) visible on foliage Cover with fine mesh netting to exclude butterflies; hand-pick eggs and caterpillars; use Bt as a last resort