Pest identification
What's eating my chervil?
Aphids
Signs: Sticky, curled shoot tips and flower stems; colonies of small insects massed on new growth
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or water jet; pinch and dispose of heavily infested tips; companion-plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop
Slugs & Snails
Signs: Seedlings and young plants eaten to the soil; characteristic slime trails left behind
Control: Sow under cover and transplant larger plugs; apply iron phosphate pellets; use fine grit around plants
Carrot Fly (Psila rosae)
Signs: Reddish-discoloured foliage; tunnels and rust-brown marks in roots; plants wilt and collapse
Control: Grow under fine insect mesh; avoid thinning in evening (scent attracts females); rotate crops annually
Keep chervil pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Chervil pests — FAQ
What is eating my chervil?
Chervil is a cool-season herb most troubled by aphids, slugs, and carrot fly (which attacks related Apiaceae). Slugs devastate seedlings and young plants. Aphids cluster on soft tips, particularly in spring. Carrot root fly larvae can tunnel into roots, stunting plants. Birds may peck at seedlings in exposed positions.
How do I get rid of aphids on chervil?
Sticky, curled shoot tips and flower stems; colonies of small insects massed on new growth Spray with insecticidal soap or water jet; pinch and dispose of heavily infested tips; companion-plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on chervil?
Seedlings and young plants eaten to the soil; characteristic slime trails left behind Sow under cover and transplant larger plugs; apply iron phosphate pellets; use fine grit around plants
How do I get rid of carrot fly (psila rosae) on chervil?
Reddish-discoloured foliage; tunnels and rust-brown marks in roots; plants wilt and collapse Grow under fine insect mesh; avoid thinning in evening (scent attracts females); rotate crops annually