Pest identification
What's eating my lollo rosso lettuce?
Aphids
Signs: Green or grey-green colonies lodged in the frilly leaf margins; honeydew and sticky leaves; growth distortion.
Control: Strong water spray along frills; remove worst-affected leaves; neem oil; companion-plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop.
Slugs & Snails
Signs: Irregular holes and skeletonised outer leaves; slime trails throughout the frilly head.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps at soil level; copper collars on pots; pick by torch at night.
Cutworms
Signs: Plant toppled and severed at the base; fat grey caterpillar found 2–5 cm below soil surface.
Control: Fit cardboard collars 5 cm above and below soil level; cultivate soil around plants to expose larvae.
Caterpillars (various moth larvae)
Signs: Holes through leaves; droppings visible on outer foliage; severe plants stripped to mid-rib.
Control: Hand-pick eggs and caterpillars; Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; cover with fine insect mesh.
Keep lollo rosso lettuce pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lollo Rosso Lettuce pests — FAQ
What is eating my lollo rosso lettuce?
Lollo Rosso's frilly leaf margins trap moisture and debris, giving slugs and aphids ideal hiding spots. The deep red colour also attracts aphids, which find pigmented varieties especially favourable. Cutworms and caterpillars sever stems. Downy mildew follows pest damage on outer leaves but pest control itself is the first priority.
How do I get rid of aphids on lollo rosso lettuce?
Green or grey-green colonies lodged in the frilly leaf margins; honeydew and sticky leaves; growth distortion. Strong water spray along frills; remove worst-affected leaves; neem oil; companion-plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on lollo rosso lettuce?
Irregular holes and skeletonised outer leaves; slime trails throughout the frilly head. Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps at soil level; copper collars on pots; pick by torch at night.
How do I get rid of cutworms on lollo rosso lettuce?
Plant toppled and severed at the base; fat grey caterpillar found 2–5 cm below soil surface. Fit cardboard collars 5 cm above and below soil level; cultivate soil around plants to expose larvae.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (various moth larvae) on lollo rosso lettuce?
Holes through leaves; droppings visible on outer foliage; severe plants stripped to mid-rib. Hand-pick eggs and caterpillars; Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; cover with fine insect mesh.