What's eating my globe candytuft?

Globe candytuft (Iberis umbellata) is a Brassicaceae family plant, so it attracts brassica pests. Slugs and snails shred seedlings and young leaves, flea beetles pepper foliage with tiny shot-holes, cabbage white caterpillars chew larger holes in leaves, and aphids cluster on tender new growth. It is relatively low-maintenance overall, with slugs the most common problem.

Ragged holes and entire seedlings eaten overnight; slime trails visible on and around the plant at soil level. Apply iron phosphate pellets or diatomaceous earth around plants; hand-pick at night; use copper tape around containers.

Numerous tiny round shot-holes scattered across leaves; young plants most affected and may look peppered. Cover seedlings with fine insect mesh immediately after sowing; use yellow sticky traps; apply pyrethrin spray for heavy infestations.

Large, irregular holes in leaves from pale green caterpillars; look for tiny yellow eggs on leaf undersides first. Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; cover plants with fine netting to exclude butterflies.

Clusters of small soft insects on shoot tips and flower buds causing distorted, sticky growth. Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.