What's eating my gazania rigens 'daybreak garden sun'?

Gazania 'Daybreak Garden Sun' is most troubled by aphids and spider mites, especially in dry summers. Thrips distort petals in warm weather. In wetter climates, slugs graze seedlings and young growth. Because flowers close at night, damage is often spotted more easily on foliage than blooms.

Colonies on new growth and stem tips cause curled, sticky leaves and stunted shoots; sooty mould follows. Knock off with water; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce beneficial insects such as ladybirds.

Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; foliage turns bronze and papery in severe infestations. Spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or a miticide; keep plants well-watered to reduce heat stress.

Silver-streaked or distorted petals and leaves; tiny dark faecal dots visible on petal surfaces. Remove affected flowers promptly; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps for monitoring.

Irregular holes in basal leaves and seedlings, with characteristic slime trails. Hand-pick after dark; iron phosphate pellets around planting areas; avoid excessive overhead watering.