Pest identification
What's eating my garden phlox?
Spider Mites
Signs: Fine bronzy stippling on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing underneath in hot, dry weather; leaves drop early.
Control: Mist foliage regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid water stress which worsens outbreaks.
Phlox Plant Bug (Lopidea davisi)
Signs: Silver-white stippling and distortion on young leaves and shoot tips; affected tissue may die.
Control: Remove garden debris where adults overwinter; apply insecticidal soap early in season when nymphs emerge.
Rabbits
Signs: Young stems and shoots nibbled cleanly to the ground in spring before plants establish.
Control: Hardware-cloth cylinders around new plants; rabbit repellent spray; fencing around vulnerable beds.
Sawfly Larvae
Signs: Pale or skeletonized patches on leaves where larvae feed gregariously in small groups.
Control: Hand-pick clusters; apply neem oil or spinosad spray; remove affected stems promptly.
Keep garden phlox pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Garden Phlox pests — FAQ
What is eating my garden phlox?
Garden Phlox is most troubled by powdery mildew, but for animal and insect pests, spider mites are the top threat in dry summers. Phlox plant bugs cause silvery stippling. Sawfly larvae occasionally skeletonize leaves. Rabbits graze young shoots in spring. Good air circulation and spacing are essential for keeping plants healthy.
How do I get rid of spider mites on garden phlox?
Fine bronzy stippling on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing underneath in hot, dry weather; leaves drop early. Mist foliage regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid water stress which worsens outbreaks.
How do I get rid of phlox plant bug (lopidea davisi) on garden phlox?
Silver-white stippling and distortion on young leaves and shoot tips; affected tissue may die. Remove garden debris where adults overwinter; apply insecticidal soap early in season when nymphs emerge.
How do I get rid of rabbits on garden phlox?
Young stems and shoots nibbled cleanly to the ground in spring before plants establish. Hardware-cloth cylinders around new plants; rabbit repellent spray; fencing around vulnerable beds.
How do I get rid of sawfly larvae on garden phlox?
Pale or skeletonized patches on leaves where larvae feed gregariously in small groups. Hand-pick clusters; apply neem oil or spinosad spray; remove affected stems promptly.