What's eating my crimson water lily?

Crimson Water Lily (Nymphaea 'Laydekeri Fulgens') is susceptible to water lily beetle, aphids, china mark moth, and occasionally slugs and snails at the pond margin. The RHS lists all four as known pests of this cultivar. Avoid chemical treatments; use water jets, fish, and physical removal to manage infestations.

Grubs resemble motionless black droppings on leaf surfaces; they strip pads to a skeletal appearance or leave them full of holes. Hose larvae into pond water for fish to eat; remove overwintering pondside vegetation each autumn.

Sap-sucking colonies cluster on pads, buds, and stems; heavy infestations reduce flowering and cause leaf yellowing. Knock off with a strong water jet so pond fish can feed on them; encourage predatory ladybirds at the pond edge.

Round holes in pads where caterpillars cut oval sections to make floating leaf cases; unchecked it can kill the plant. Remove and destroy cases and larvae by hand; tidy marginal planting to reduce overwintering adult moths.

Ragged holes in leaves and flower stems at the pond margin, particularly on young emergent growth. Handpick at dusk; iron phosphate pellets are safe around water and wildlife and can be used at the pond margin.