What's eating my eggplant / aubergine?

Eggplant is heavily targeted by flea beetles, which riddle leaves with tiny holes and can kill seedlings. Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and spider mites are also serious threats. In gardens, slugs damage fruit at soil level. Row covers at transplant and regular scouting keep infestations manageable.

Dozens of small shot-holes in leaves; heavy feeding kills seedlings; adults jump when disturbed Row covers until plants are established; kaolin clay on foliage; spinosad spray for heavy outbreaks; interplant with basil or catnip as repellents

Leaves stripped to the mid-rib by orange-and-black striped adults and red larvae Hand-pick adults, larvae, and orange egg clusters; apply Btk or spinosad; rotate nightshades to new beds each year

Fine pale stippling on upper leaf surface; webbing on undersides; leaves turn bronze and drop in hot, dry spells Increase humidity; spray with water forcefully; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)

Curled new growth; sticky honeydew; sooty mould; transmit mosaic viruses Blast off with water; insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and lacewings; remove heavily infested shoots