What's eating my cosmos bipinnatus 'picotee'?

Cosmos 'Picotee' shares the same pest vulnerabilities as other bipinnatus types. Aphids are the most frequent problem, especially on lush growth from over-fertilised soil. Caterpillars attack buds and flowers, earwigs chew petals at night, and deer readily browse cosmos in rural and suburban gardens. Overall pest pressure is mild when grown lean.

Soft clustered insects on new growth and flower stems; sticky residue, leaf curl, and sooty mould. Reduce nitrogen fertiliser to limit lush growth; spray with insecticidal soap; rely on ladybirds and lacewings.

Holes eaten through petals and flower buds; frass (dark pellets) found at feeding sites. Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on a 10-day cycle; handpick larvae in the evening when they are most active.

Ragged, irregular holes in petals — typically overnight feeding leaves distinctive tattered blooms. Trap in rolled damp newspaper or cardboard tubes placed near plants; collect and dispose of traps each morning.