Pest identification
What's eating my culantro?
Leaf miners
Signs: Larvae tunnel through the thick leaves, leaving pale winding trails or blotched patches that reduce leaf quality and market appeal.
Control: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Use insect-proof row covers if miners are a recurring problem. Good plot hygiene reduces overwintering pupae.
Aphids
Signs: Occasional colonies on new growth and flower stems cause sticky honeydew and minor distortion; culantro's scent and beneficial insect activity usually limit populations.
Control: Blast off with a water jet. Apply insecticidal soap if colonies are large. Plant culantro near susceptible crops to draw in ladybirds and lacewings.
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides during hot, dry conditions; more common on plants grown under cover or in containers.
Control: Increase humidity; spray leaf undersides with water. Apply neem oil if mite population is established.
Keep culantro pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Culantro pests — FAQ
What is eating my culantro?
Culantro is more pest-resistant than its look-alike cilantro, and actually attracts beneficial predatory insects. Leaf miners, aphids, and spider mites are the occasional pests of note. Fungal leaf spot in humid conditions can cause more damage than insects. The plant's strong scent deters many common garden pests.
How do I get rid of leaf miners on culantro?
Larvae tunnel through the thick leaves, leaving pale winding trails or blotched patches that reduce leaf quality and market appeal. Remove and destroy affected leaves. Use insect-proof row covers if miners are a recurring problem. Good plot hygiene reduces overwintering pupae.
How do I get rid of aphids on culantro?
Occasional colonies on new growth and flower stems cause sticky honeydew and minor distortion; culantro's scent and beneficial insect activity usually limit populations. Blast off with a water jet. Apply insecticidal soap if colonies are large. Plant culantro near susceptible crops to draw in ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on culantro?
Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides during hot, dry conditions; more common on plants grown under cover or in containers. Increase humidity; spray leaf undersides with water. Apply neem oil if mite population is established.