What's eating my ludwigia palustris?

Ludwigia palustris grows as an aquarium stem plant and pond or bog marginal. Submerged, algae and pest snails are the primary threats. Emersed and pond-margin growth is susceptible to aphids, spider mites and, in outdoor ponds, waterfowl and turtles that graze the soft foliage. Algae management and plant-safe tank mates cover most indoor situations.

Smothers leaves and competes for light and nutrients, slowing or stalling growth Maintain CO2, reduce photoperiod if hair algae appears, add Amano shrimp and nerite snails for biological control

Ragged holes in soft leaves; heavy populations stunt the plant through constant defoliation Introduce assassin snails or a loach species, trap with vegetable bait, clean up uneaten food to reduce nutrients

Dense colonies on stem tips cause wilting and yellowed, curled new leaves Knock off with a strong water spray, apply insecticidal soap or diluted neem to emersed portions

Stems and leaves grazed at the waterline; entire clumps can be uprooted by ducks or turtles Use pond plant baskets set deeper than waterfowl reach, or protect with floating mesh; remove turtles from planted ponds