What's eating my fenugreek?

Fenugreek faces aphids as its main pest — colonies build rapidly on soft growth. Powdery mildew is a common fungal issue in dry summers. Outdoor plants may be visited by loopers and semi-loopers that chew leaves. As a fast-growing annual, damage can be managed easily by prompt action.

Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew; distorted leaves and stunted pods Remove with a water jet; spray insecticidal soap; encourage lacewings and ladybirds; avoid nitrogen-heavy feeding

Irregular holes in leaves; partially eaten leaflets; caterpillars arch their bodies as they move Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray, which is safe for edible crops

Silver-bronze streaking on leaves; scarring on pods; tiny fast-moving insects visible under magnification Remove worst-affected foliage; apply neem oil or spinosad; blue sticky traps help monitor populations