What's eating my dahlia 'ace summer sunset'?

Dahlias face slugs, aphids, earwigs, and caterpillars outdoors, plus deer and rabbits in open gardens. Earwigs are the most notorious petal-shredders on decorative dahlias. Combine trapping, barriers, and biological controls; inspect flowers nightly during summer peak.

Ragged holes chewed through petals and leaves at night, often leaving shredded flower centres on decorative and ball varieties. Set newspaper traps at the base of plants; pick up and destroy each morning; avoid excessive mulch that hides them.

Dense colonies on shoot tips and undersides of leaves, causing leaf curl, distortion, and sticky honeydew with sooty mould. Knock off with water; use insecticidal soap, pyrethrin, or neem oil; introduce predatory insects where possible.

Chewed holes in lower leaves and developing stems at soil level; worst in damp conditions and on young plants. Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; hand-picking at dusk; keep base of plants clear of debris.