Pest identification
What's eating my lovage?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on stems, leaf stalks, and flower umbels; honeydew; wilting and distortion of new growth in spring.
Control: Blast off with water; introduce beneficial insects; insecticidal soap for large infestations.
Celery leaf miner (Euleia heraclei)
Signs: Pale, blotchy or winding brown mines inside leaves caused by fly larvae; cosmetically disfiguring but rarely fatal.
Control: Remove and destroy infested leaves promptly; use fine insect-mesh netting over plants in spring to exclude egg-laying adults.
Black swallowtail / parsleyworm caterpillar
Signs: Large green-and-black caterpillars devour entire leaflets rapidly; significant defoliation if unchecked on smaller plants.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars (consider relocating rather than killing — they become beautiful butterflies); plants tolerate light defoliation.
Keep lovage pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lovage pests — FAQ
What is eating my lovage?
Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a tall, vigorous herb generally free from serious pests, but aphids are its most reliable nuisance — they cluster on hollow stems and flower umbels. Celery leaf miner (Euleia heraclei) and the black swallowtail caterpillar also target it. Root-damaging voles can be a problem in winter where soils are soft.
How do I get rid of aphids on lovage?
Dense colonies on stems, leaf stalks, and flower umbels; honeydew; wilting and distortion of new growth in spring. Blast off with water; introduce beneficial insects; insecticidal soap for large infestations.
How do I get rid of celery leaf miner (euleia heraclei) on lovage?
Pale, blotchy or winding brown mines inside leaves caused by fly larvae; cosmetically disfiguring but rarely fatal. Remove and destroy infested leaves promptly; use fine insect-mesh netting over plants in spring to exclude egg-laying adults.
How do I get rid of black swallowtail / parsleyworm caterpillar on lovage?
Large green-and-black caterpillars devour entire leaflets rapidly; significant defoliation if unchecked on smaller plants. Hand-pick caterpillars (consider relocating rather than killing — they become beautiful butterflies); plants tolerate light defoliation.