What's eating my eastern red columbine?

Eastern Red Columbine is most distinctively plagued by columbine leaf miners, which tunnel pale winding trails through almost every leaf by early summer. Aphids cluster on flower stems, sawfly larvae shred foliage, and deer browse flower stalks readily. Leaf miner damage looks alarming but rarely kills established plants.

Pale, winding serpentine tunnels inside leaves visible from above; heavily mined leaves turn brown and papery. Remove and bin affected leaves early; do not compost; cut foliage to the ground after flowering — new clean growth follows.

Colonies on flower stalks and buds cause distorted stems and petals; honeydew attracts ants and sooty mold. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; a strong water jet dislodges colonies; attract ladybugs and lacewings.

Small green caterpillar-like larvae skeletonize leaves from the margins inward, sometimes defoliating plants entirely. Hand-pick larvae; spray insecticidal soap on the undersides of leaves; cut back foliage to stimulate clean regrowth.

Flower stems browsed at mid-height; leaves stripped; heavy browsing in spring can prevent flowering entirely. Apply deer repellent spray to foliage; plant within a fenced area or use wire cloches; Aquilegia canadensis is less preferred than tulips but still browsed.