Pest identification
What's eating my butterhead lettuce?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in outer leaves; entire small plants consumed overnight; slime trails visible at dawn
Control: Iron phosphate pellets around plants; hand-pick after dark; surround with grit; avoid evening watering
Lettuce root aphid (Pemphigus bursarius)
Signs: Plants wilt and collapse despite adequate water; white waxy powder visible on roots on inspection
Control: Remove and destroy infested plants; rotate lettuce beds each season; choose resistant varieties for future sowings
Glasshouse/peach aphid (Myzus persicae)
Signs: Sticky, curled outer leaves; colonies on leaf undersides; honeydew and sooty mold
Control: Insecticidal soap; strong water jet; encourage hoverflies; remove outer leaves with colonies
Rabbits
Signs: Entire heads eaten or torn away; clean-cut stem bases at ground level
Control: Wire mesh fence 90 cm high with 15 cm underground fold; protect beds with row cover netting
Keep butterhead lettuce pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats lettuce — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats butterhead lettuce — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common butterhead lettuce problems & fixes
- Butterhead Lettuce watering schedule
- Butterhead Lettuce light requirements
- Full butterhead lettuce care guide
Butterhead Lettuce pests — FAQ
What is eating my butterhead lettuce?
Butterhead lettuce is one of the most pest-attractive vegetables in the garden. Slugs and snails are the top threat, shredding soft leaves overnight. Aphids — especially root aphid and lettuce aphid — are persistent. Caterpillars, birds, and rabbits all target the tender heads. Netting and regular slug control are essential from transplant onwards.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on butterhead lettuce?
Ragged holes in outer leaves; entire small plants consumed overnight; slime trails visible at dawn Iron phosphate pellets around plants; hand-pick after dark; surround with grit; avoid evening watering
How do I get rid of lettuce root aphid (pemphigus bursarius) on butterhead lettuce?
Plants wilt and collapse despite adequate water; white waxy powder visible on roots on inspection Remove and destroy infested plants; rotate lettuce beds each season; choose resistant varieties for future sowings
How do I get rid of glasshouse/peach aphid (myzus persicae) on butterhead lettuce?
Sticky, curled outer leaves; colonies on leaf undersides; honeydew and sooty mold Insecticidal soap; strong water jet; encourage hoverflies; remove outer leaves with colonies
How do I get rid of rabbits on butterhead lettuce?
Entire heads eaten or torn away; clean-cut stem bases at ground level Wire mesh fence 90 cm high with 15 cm underground fold; protect beds with row cover netting