Pest identification
What's eating my fallopia baldschuanica?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies of black or green insects on soft shoot tips; sticky honeydew; minor distortion of new leaves.
Control: Blast off with water; rarely needs chemical intervention given the plant's vigour; insecticidal soap if colonies are dense.
Psyllids (Cacopsylla sp.)
Signs: Leaf curl and puckering on new growth; nymphs produce white waxy threads; honeydew leads to sooty mould.
Control: Prune and dispose of affected shoot tips; apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray to nymphal colonies; control is rarely essential on vigorous plants.
Keep fallopia baldschuanica pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Fallopia baldschuanica pests — FAQ
What is eating my fallopia baldschuanica?
Russian vine (mile-a-minute) has few serious pest problems owing to its rampant growth — but aphids gather on new shoots in spring, and black bean aphid can be dense on tender tips. Psyllids (jumping plant lice) are a specialist pest causing leaf curl on this genus.
How do I get rid of aphids on fallopia baldschuanica?
Colonies of black or green insects on soft shoot tips; sticky honeydew; minor distortion of new leaves. Blast off with water; rarely needs chemical intervention given the plant's vigour; insecticidal soap if colonies are dense.
How do I get rid of psyllids (cacopsylla sp.) on fallopia baldschuanica?
Leaf curl and puckering on new growth; nymphs produce white waxy threads; honeydew leads to sooty mould. Prune and dispose of affected shoot tips; apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray to nymphal colonies; control is rarely essential on vigorous plants.