What's eating my common butterwort?

Pinguicula vulgaris, a cool-growing native bog plant, faces root aphids as its most serious pest — they colonise the roots out of sight. Mealybugs and occasional fungus gnat larvae can also damage the root zone. The sticky leaves passively trap small flying insects, offering no defence against soil-dwelling pests.

Plant loses vigour and wilts despite moist conditions; may show sooty mould at the crown from honeydew secretions. Repot into fresh substrate and inspect roots carefully. Remove affected root material and treat with a dilute insecticide drench; quarantine from other plants.

White cottony masses at leaf bases and in the root zone; rosette growth stalls and outer leaves yellow. Remove with alcohol-dipped cotton swab; repot and clean roots if infestation reaches the root zone. Avoid wetting the crown excessively.

Larvae feed on roots in wet peat or bog substrate; plant droops and fine roots are visibly damaged on inspection. Reduce standing water; apply Bti drench to the substrate. Yellow sticky traps help monitor adult activity.