What's eating my dryopteris uniformis?

Dryopteris uniformis is a deciduous East Asian garden fern. Slugs and snails routinely damage the soft emerging fronds in spring. Vine weevil larvae can destroy roots in container plants. This fern is otherwise relatively trouble-free; mature hardened fronds are rarely damaged by insects or larger animals.

Irregular holes and chewed frond tips on new growth; mucus trails visible at night. Apply ferric phosphate pellets around the base; use copper barriers in pots; remove hiding places such as dense leaf litter.

Scalloped notches on frond edges from adult beetles; white larvae destroy the root crown. Apply Steinernema nematodes to moist soil in spring and late summer; use imidacloprid-free vine weevil drench for pots.

Soft-bodied insects on tender new frond stems; possible honeydew and sooty mold. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; natural predators usually keep populations low outdoors.