What's eating my desertnyi pomegranate?

Desertnyi Pomegranate, a Central Asian cultivar grown for its sweet low-acid fruit, faces leaf-footed bugs as the primary threat in warm climates. Aphids colonise new growth, pomegranate borers tunnel into fruit, and in arid regions cotton aphid and mealybugs may also appear on sheltered stems.

Bugs pierce fruit skin; internal browning, early splitting, and off-flavour in affected fruits. Hand-pick adults in early morning; pyrethrin or kaolin clay barrier spray; remove overwintering debris.

Caterpillar entry holes on fruit surface; larvae consume seeds and aril, causing premature drop. Bag fruits after petal fall; remove and destroy all dropped or damaged fruits promptly.

Dense colonies on new shoots and flower clusters; honeydew and sooty mould reduce photosynthesis. Insecticidal soap spray; strong water jet; encourage parasitic wasps by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides.

White waxy masses in stem joints and undersides of leaves; weakens plant and promotes sooty mould. Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray neem oil or horticultural oil; repeat every 10 days.