What's eating my crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'solfatare'?

Crocosmia 'Solfatare' has bronze-tinted foliage that makes pest damage more visible. Spider mites cause early bronzing and stippling of the decorative leaves. Thrips scar the apricot-yellow flowers. Aphids gather on spring shoots. The corms may be disturbed by vine weevil grubs in containers. Spider mites are the most consistent threat to this cultivar's ornamental value.

Fine pale stippling on bronze foliage that darkens to an unnatural dull brown; fine webbing below. Mist the foliage regularly; apply Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites; spray dilute neem oil.

Silver flecking and scarring on apricot-yellow flowers, reducing display quality. Irrigate during dry spells; use yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap to leaves and flowers.

Colonies on emerging shoots in spring; honeydew makes foliage sticky and attracts sooty mold. Spray with water or insecticidal soap; pinch out heavily infested shoot tips.

C-shaped white grubs eat corms in containers, causing plants to wilt and collapse. Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to container compost in late summer; inspect corms when dividing.