Pest identification
What's eating my joseph's coat?
Flea beetles
Signs: Tiny round shot-holes across the colourful leaves; heavy feeding gives a tattered appearance; seedlings most vulnerable.
Control: Cover seedlings with insect mesh; apply diatomaceous earth at the base; delay outdoor planting until plants are large.
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on shoot tips; distorted leaves; honeydew leading to sooty mould.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap; encourage parasitic wasps; remove with a strong water jet.
Caterpillars (Amaranthus webworm)
Signs: Silk webbing at shoot tips; chewed and skeletonised leaves; visible caterpillars inside webbing.
Control: Hand-remove webbed nests; apply Bt spray targeting young caterpillars; destroy plant debris at season end.
Keep joseph's coat pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Joseph's coat pests — FAQ
What is eating my joseph's coat?
Joseph's coat amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) shares the same pest suite as other amaranths: aphids cluster on new growth, flea beetles riddle leaves, and caterpillars including the Amaranthus webworm consume foliage. In larger gardens, deer will graze young plants. Flea beetles are especially damaging to seedlings.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on joseph's coat?
Tiny round shot-holes across the colourful leaves; heavy feeding gives a tattered appearance; seedlings most vulnerable. Cover seedlings with insect mesh; apply diatomaceous earth at the base; delay outdoor planting until plants are large.
How do I get rid of aphids on joseph's coat?
Soft colonies on shoot tips; distorted leaves; honeydew leading to sooty mould. Spray with insecticidal soap; encourage parasitic wasps; remove with a strong water jet.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (amaranthus webworm) on joseph's coat?
Silk webbing at shoot tips; chewed and skeletonised leaves; visible caterpillars inside webbing. Hand-remove webbed nests; apply Bt spray targeting young caterpillars; destroy plant debris at season end.