Pest identification
What's eating my colocasia 'coffee cups'?
Taro caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)
Signs: Large irregular holes or leaves stripped to the midrib overnight; green-brown caterpillars found hiding in the crown.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars at night; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray on young larvae; use spinosad for heavier infestations.
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on new growth and undersides of emerging leaves; honeydew and ants are telltale signs.
Control: Blast off with a strong water jet; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage aphid predators such as lacewings.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged holes in young unfurling leaves especially after rain or irrigation; slime trails on stems.
Control: Apply ferric phosphate pellets around the crown; hand-pick at dusk; reduce standing moisture around plants.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling across the large leaf surfaces; subtle webbing in hot, dry weather.
Control: Increase overhead watering frequency; apply neem oil or miticide spray; improve airflow around crowded plants.
Keep colocasia 'coffee cups' pest-free
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Colocasia 'Coffee Cups' pests — FAQ
What is eating my colocasia 'coffee cups'?
Colocasia 'Coffee Cups', a large tropical elephant ear grown outdoors or in water gardens, is commonly attacked by taro caterpillars (Spodoptera litura) which devour whole leaves overnight, and aphids that cluster on new growth. Spider mites trouble it in dry spells. In gardens, slugs shred young leaves and deer may browse the bold foliage.
How do I get rid of taro caterpillar (spodoptera litura) on colocasia 'coffee cups'?
Large irregular holes or leaves stripped to the midrib overnight; green-brown caterpillars found hiding in the crown. Hand-pick caterpillars at night; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray on young larvae; use spinosad for heavier infestations.
How do I get rid of aphids on colocasia 'coffee cups'?
Dense colonies on new growth and undersides of emerging leaves; honeydew and ants are telltale signs. Blast off with a strong water jet; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage aphid predators such as lacewings.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on colocasia 'coffee cups'?
Ragged holes in young unfurling leaves especially after rain or irrigation; slime trails on stems. Apply ferric phosphate pellets around the crown; hand-pick at dusk; reduce standing moisture around plants.
How do I get rid of spider mites on colocasia 'coffee cups'?
Fine pale stippling across the large leaf surfaces; subtle webbing in hot, dry weather. Increase overhead watering frequency; apply neem oil or miticide spray; improve airflow around crowded plants.