What's eating my corn mint?

Corn mint is vigorous but susceptible to mint aphids, mint flea beetles, and the mint moth caterpillar, which rolls leaves and feeds inside them. Spider mites can build up in dry conditions. The spearmint-like scent discourages some pests but not specialist mint feeders. Regular harvesting reduces pest pressure by removing infested material.

Dense colonies of pale green or yellow-green aphids on shoot tips and undersides; leaves pucker and curl inward; honeydew promotes sooty mould Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; knock off with water; harvest infested tips frequently; encourage parasitic wasps

Numerous small round holes punched through leaves giving a shot-hole appearance; adults are tiny shiny bronze-black beetles on foliage Use row covers early in the season; apply pyrethrin spray if infestations are heavy; remove plant debris in autumn where adults overwinter

Leaves rolled and bound with silk; small green caterpillars feeding inside the roll; shoots look ragged or wilted Unroll affected leaves and destroy caterpillars by hand; Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray is effective on young caterpillars

Fine pale stippling across leaves, bronzing, and gossamer webbing on undersides during hot dry spells Increase humidity by misting; apply neem oil spray; remove badly infested stems; avoid water stress