Pest identification
What's eating my florence fennel 'zefa fino'?
Fennel aphid (Hyadaphis foeniculi) and other aphids
Signs: Masses of grey-green or black aphids on stems, leaf junctions, and inside the developing bulb; honeydew and ants follow.
Control: Knock off with water jet; introduce or encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps; use insecticidal soap if colony is large.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings severed at soil level; holes in young foliage; damage to the base of developing bulbs in wet weather.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets at planting; copper barriers; hand-pick after dark; sow under cover and transplant larger plugs.
Swallowtail / parsley caterpillars (Papilio polyxenes / P. machaon)
Signs: Distinctive striped caterpillars consume feathery foliage; rarely reach numbers that threaten bulb development.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars and relocate; in most gardens their numbers are low enough to tolerate — the adult butterflies are beneficial.
Keep florence fennel 'zefa fino' pest-free
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Florence Fennel 'Zefa Fino' pests — FAQ
What is eating my florence fennel 'zefa fino'?
Florence fennel 'Zefa Fino' is most seriously damaged by aphids, which colonise the fine feathery foliage and swelling bulb base. Slugs attack young seedlings, and the fennel aphid (Hyadaphis foeniculi) is a near-universal pest of all fennel cultivars. Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars, while striking, are rarely numerous enough to cause crop loss.
How do I get rid of fennel aphid (hyadaphis foeniculi) and other aphids on florence fennel 'zefa fino'?
Masses of grey-green or black aphids on stems, leaf junctions, and inside the developing bulb; honeydew and ants follow. Knock off with water jet; introduce or encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps; use insecticidal soap if colony is large.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on florence fennel 'zefa fino'?
Seedlings severed at soil level; holes in young foliage; damage to the base of developing bulbs in wet weather. Iron phosphate pellets at planting; copper barriers; hand-pick after dark; sow under cover and transplant larger plugs.
How do I get rid of swallowtail / parsley caterpillars (papilio polyxenes / p. machaon) on florence fennel 'zefa fino'?
Distinctive striped caterpillars consume feathery foliage; rarely reach numbers that threaten bulb development. Hand-pick caterpillars and relocate; in most gardens their numbers are low enough to tolerate — the adult butterflies are beneficial.