What's eating my 'listada de gandia' aubergine?

'Listada de Gandia' aubergine is most damaged by flea beetles riddling young leaves, Colorado potato beetle defoliating plants rapidly, and two-spotted spider mites in hot dry spells. Aphids and whitefly also colonize foliage. Under cover, red spider mite is the prime indoor threat. Keep plants well-watered and use row covers at transplant to suppress flea beetle damage.

Tiny round shot-holes scattered densely across young leaves; seedlings can be killed in heavy infestations. Cover transplants with fine insect mesh immediately. Sticky yellow traps to reduce adults. Diatomaceous earth around the base. Pyrethrin spray if damage is severe on young plants.

Adults and bright-red larvae rapidly defoliate plants; yellow-orange egg clusters on leaf undersides. Hand-pick adults, larvae, and egg masses daily. Spinosad spray on larvae before they grow large. Crop rotation — do not follow potatoes, tomatoes, or peppers. Neem oil as a deterrent.

Fine pale stippling across leaf surface; fine webbing under leaves in heavy infestations; foliage yellows. Maintain soil moisture and humidity. Spray undersides of leaves with water or neem oil. Release predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) in greenhouse situations.

Clustered on shoot tips and flower buds; leaves curl; honeydew leads to sooty mould. Blast with water; apply insecticidal soap. Encourage hoverflies and ladybirds. Pinch heavily infested tips. In greenhouses, introduce Aphidius parasitic wasps.