Pest identification
What's eating my colocasia antiquorum?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on leaves and petioles cause yellowing, distortion, and honeydew buildup that promotes sooty mold
Control: Use a strong water jet to knock off colonies; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes chewed in leaves and damage to young emerging shoots at soil level overnight
Control: Apply iron-phosphate slug pellets (food-safe grade near edibles); hand-pick at night; reduce excess surface moisture
Wireworms
Signs: Click beetle larvae tunnel into developing corms underground, leaving entry holes and causing rot
Control: Rotate planting location annually; lift corms promptly at harvest; use yellow sticky traps to monitor adults
Deer
Signs: Leaves and stems browsed down; repeated browsing reduces corm development by limiting photosynthesis
Control: Install deer fencing around the vegetable plot; apply repellent spray to surrounding vegetation
Keep colocasia antiquorum pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Colocasia Antiquorum pests — FAQ
What is eating my colocasia antiquorum?
Colocasia antiquorum (eddoe) grown as an edible crop is attacked by taro leaf blight, aphids, slugs, and — in open gardens — deer and birds. Aphids are the most consistent pest. Its edible corms may also be targeted by soil-dwelling pests like wireworms in vegetable beds.
How do I get rid of aphids on colocasia antiquorum?
Colonies on leaves and petioles cause yellowing, distortion, and honeydew buildup that promotes sooty mold Use a strong water jet to knock off colonies; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on colocasia antiquorum?
Holes chewed in leaves and damage to young emerging shoots at soil level overnight Apply iron-phosphate slug pellets (food-safe grade near edibles); hand-pick at night; reduce excess surface moisture
How do I get rid of wireworms on colocasia antiquorum?
Click beetle larvae tunnel into developing corms underground, leaving entry holes and causing rot Rotate planting location annually; lift corms promptly at harvest; use yellow sticky traps to monitor adults
How do I get rid of deer on colocasia antiquorum?
Leaves and stems browsed down; repeated browsing reduces corm development by limiting photosynthesis Install deer fencing around the vegetable plot; apply repellent spray to surrounding vegetation