What's eating my 'fairy tale' aubergine?

'Fairy Tale' aubergine attracts flea beetles on young leaves, spider mites in warm dry conditions, and aphids and whitefly on foliage. Colorado potato beetle can rapidly strip plants outdoors in affected US regions. This compact variety is often grown in containers, making it easier to inspect and react quickly to early infestations.

Numerous small round holes punched through young leaves; transplants are particularly vulnerable and can be set back badly. Use insect-proof mesh over transplants for the first 3–4 weeks. Sticky yellow traps. Pyrethrin spray for severe infestations on young plants. Diatomaceous earth around the stem base.

Pale, stippled foliage; fine webbing on leaf undersides; plants weaken and drop leaves in heavy attacks. Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity. Spray leaf undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis in protected conditions. Avoid drought stress.

Clouds of tiny white flies rise when plants are disturbed; nymphs on leaf undersides produce honeydew and sooty mould. Yellow sticky traps for monitoring and mass trapping. Introduce Encarsia formosa parasitic wasps under cover. Insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray targeting leaf undersides.

Adults and larvae rapidly defoliate plants; orange-yellow egg clusters on leaf undersides are a key diagnostic sign. Daily hand-picking of adults and larvae. Spinosad applied to larvae when young. Strict crop rotation away from nightshade family plants. Row covers before beetles emerge.