What's eating my impatiens balsamina?

Impatiens balsamina (garden balsam) is a fast-growing annual that aphids find irresistible, especially on its fleshy stems. Spotted cucumber beetles chew leaves and flowers. Thrips and spider mites appear in warm, dry conditions. Caterpillars occasionally nibble foliage. Strong water jets and neem oil handle most infestations effectively.

Dense colonies on succulent stems and leaf undersides; leaves distort and yellow; melon aphid can transmit mosaic virus, causing mottled, crinkled foliage. Spray with a strong jet of water daily for one to two weeks; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil for persistent infestations.

Irregular holes in leaves and petals; adults also feed on flowers and may spread bacterial disease. Hand-pick adults; use floating row covers on young plants; apply pyrethrin spray if populations are high.

Silver streaking on leaves; petals show deformed or discoloured patches; new shoot tips may be twisted. Use sticky traps; apply neem oil or spinosad; remove and bin heavily infested plant parts.

Larger, irregular holes chewed from leaf edges or across the blade; frass (droppings) visible on foliage. Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavier infestations.