What's eating my common hollyhock?

Common hollyhock's most serious pest is hollyhock weevil, which pierces flower buds and seeds. Japanese beetles skeletonize foliage in the US, while caterpillars (including painted lady larvae) consume leaves. Sawfly larvae also graze leaflets. Rust fungus, though a disease, often arrives alongside pest stress and should be managed together.

Small round puncture holes in flower buds and seed capsules; buds may fail to open; seeds hollow. Hand-pick adults; remove and destroy seed heads before larvae exit; insecticide sprays (pyrethrin) when adults first appear.

Skeletonized leaves with only veins remaining; flowers chewed; adults feed in groups. Hand-pick into soapy water in the morning; neem oil spray; avoid pheromone traps near the planting.

Large, ragged holes in leaves; frass on foliage; defoliation of whole stems in heavy years. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at first sign; hand-pick small colonies; attract parasitic wasps by planting dill or fennel nearby.

Holes in lower and basal leaves; silvery slime trails; seedlings may be entirely consumed. Iron-phosphate pellets; beer traps; hand-pick at dusk; clear mulch away from crowns to reduce hiding spots.