Pest identification
What's eating my ipomoea batatas 'blackie'?
Sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Signs: Clouds of tiny white flies rise when disturbed; yellowing, stunted growth; sticky honeydew
Control: Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides; use yellow sticky traps; introduce parasitic wasps
Tortoise beetles (Charidotella spp.)
Signs: Round, neat holes punched through leaves; larvae scrape leaf surfaces leaving papery windows
Control: Hand-pick adults and larvae; apply spinosad or pyrethrin-based spray for larger infestations
Aphids
Signs: Sticky, distorted new growth; honeydew and sooty mould on dark leaves
Control: Blast off with water; follow with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray
Deer and rabbits
Signs: Whole stems or large sections of foliage browsed, often overnight
Control: Use fencing, repellent sprays, or grow in raised containers beyond easy reach
Keep ipomoea batatas 'blackie' pest-free
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Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' pests — FAQ
What is eating my ipomoea batatas 'blackie'?
Sweet potato vine 'Blackie' (Ipomoea batatas) is seriously damaged by sweet potato whitefly and tortoise beetles, which chew distinctive round holes in the dark foliage. Aphids cluster on new growth. Deer and rabbits will readily graze the foliage in gardens. Spider mites attack in hot dry spells.
How do I get rid of sweet potato whitefly (bemisia tabaci) on ipomoea batatas 'blackie'?
Clouds of tiny white flies rise when disturbed; yellowing, stunted growth; sticky honeydew Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides; use yellow sticky traps; introduce parasitic wasps
How do I get rid of tortoise beetles (charidotella spp.) on ipomoea batatas 'blackie'?
Round, neat holes punched through leaves; larvae scrape leaf surfaces leaving papery windows Hand-pick adults and larvae; apply spinosad or pyrethrin-based spray for larger infestations
How do I get rid of aphids on ipomoea batatas 'blackie'?
Sticky, distorted new growth; honeydew and sooty mould on dark leaves Blast off with water; follow with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray
How do I get rid of deer and rabbits on ipomoea batatas 'blackie'?
Whole stems or large sections of foliage browsed, often overnight Use fencing, repellent sprays, or grow in raised containers beyond easy reach