What's eating my dog's tooth violet?

Dog's Tooth Violet (Erythronium dens-canis) is a delicate woodland bulb with few serious pest problems. Slugs and snails are the main threat, attacking mottled leaves and flower stems in early spring. Vine weevil larvae can damage corms in container culture. Squirrels occasionally dig up corms. Deer may browse emerging foliage in open woodland garden settings.

Ragged holes in the attractive mottled leaves and petals; slime trails on soil and foliage Apply iron phosphate pellets around emerging clumps; use grit mulch; hand-pick on mild, damp evenings in early spring

White C-shaped grubs eat corms and roots in pots or containers; plant wilts and collapses suddenly despite adequate watering Apply biological control nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late summer or early autumn; use vine weevil-kill compost for containers; hand-pick grubs when repotting

Corms dug up and eaten, especially soon after planting in autumn; disturbed soil around planting sites Cover planting area with chicken wire laid just below the surface; plant beneath established ground cover where digging is harder