Pest identification
What's eating my ground cherry?
Aphids
Signs: Sticky honeydew, curled shoot tips, and colonies of small insects clustering on undersides of leaves.
Control: Knock off with water; treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Attract beneficial insects by planting nearby companion flowers.
Colorado Potato Beetle
Signs: Yellow-and-black striped beetles and their orange larvae strip foliage rapidly, sometimes defoliating plants.
Control: Hand-pick adults, egg masses, and larvae daily; apply Bt var. tenebrionis or spinosad for heavy infestations. Rotate crops each year.
Flea Beetles
Signs: Tiny shot-holes across leaves, stunting seedlings; adults jump when disturbed.
Control: Use floating row cover on transplants; dust with diatomaceous earth; pyrethrin spray as a last resort.
Tomato Hornworm
Signs: Large green caterpillars chew whole leaves and stems, leaving behind dark pellet frass.
Control: Hand-pick (check under leaves at dusk); apply Bt spray; parasitic wasp eggs on caterpillars should be left in place.
Keep ground cherry pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Ground Cherry pests — FAQ
What is eating my ground cherry?
Ground cherry shares the Physalis family's vulnerability to aphids, flea beetles, and tomato hornworm caterpillars. Colorado potato beetle is also a significant pest on this close relative of tomato and potato. The papery husk offers fruit some protection, but leaves and growing tips need regular scouting.
How do I get rid of aphids on ground cherry?
Sticky honeydew, curled shoot tips, and colonies of small insects clustering on undersides of leaves. Knock off with water; treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Attract beneficial insects by planting nearby companion flowers.
How do I get rid of colorado potato beetle on ground cherry?
Yellow-and-black striped beetles and their orange larvae strip foliage rapidly, sometimes defoliating plants. Hand-pick adults, egg masses, and larvae daily; apply Bt var. tenebrionis or spinosad for heavy infestations. Rotate crops each year.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on ground cherry?
Tiny shot-holes across leaves, stunting seedlings; adults jump when disturbed. Use floating row cover on transplants; dust with diatomaceous earth; pyrethrin spray as a last resort.
How do I get rid of tomato hornworm on ground cherry?
Large green caterpillars chew whole leaves and stems, leaving behind dark pellet frass. Hand-pick (check under leaves at dusk); apply Bt spray; parasitic wasp eggs on caterpillars should be left in place.