Pest identification
What's eating my dahlia 'bora bora'?
Earwigs
Signs: Petals and leaf edges are chewed overnight, leaving irregular ragged holes; damage appears suddenly by morning.
Control: Place rolled corrugated cardboard or damp newspaper rolls near stems; collect and destroy each morning.
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied clusters on growing tips cause curled, yellowed leaves and sticky deposits that encourage sooty mould.
Control: Hard water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap or neem oil repeat treatments; attract beneficial insects.
Caterpillars
Signs: Smooth-edged holes through leaves and flower petals; occasionally tunnel into buds, causing them to fail to open.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray as a targeted biological control.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes and channels in lower leaves and near-soil stems with visible slime trails.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick at night; copper barriers around pots.
Keep dahlia 'bora bora' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Dahlia 'Bora Bora' pests — FAQ
What is eating my dahlia 'bora bora'?
Like all dahlias, 'Bora Bora' is targeted by earwigs, aphids, slugs, and caterpillars. Deer will browse flowers and foliage if given access. Earwigs shred the decorative petals most visibly. Evening inspections, traps, and physical barriers give the best combined protection.
How do I get rid of earwigs on dahlia 'bora bora'?
Petals and leaf edges are chewed overnight, leaving irregular ragged holes; damage appears suddenly by morning. Place rolled corrugated cardboard or damp newspaper rolls near stems; collect and destroy each morning.
How do I get rid of aphids on dahlia 'bora bora'?
Soft-bodied clusters on growing tips cause curled, yellowed leaves and sticky deposits that encourage sooty mould. Hard water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap or neem oil repeat treatments; attract beneficial insects.
How do I get rid of caterpillars on dahlia 'bora bora'?
Smooth-edged holes through leaves and flower petals; occasionally tunnel into buds, causing them to fail to open. Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray as a targeted biological control.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on dahlia 'bora bora'?
Holes and channels in lower leaves and near-soil stems with visible slime trails. Apply iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick at night; copper barriers around pots.