What's eating my lupinus 'manhattan lights'?

'Manhattan Lights' is a bi-coloured lupin equally vulnerable to the lupin aphid, which is the primary pest across the genus. Colonies of large grey-white aphids build extremely fast in warm weather and can ruin flowering if not controlled quickly. Slugs, vine weevil, and the occasional caterpillar round out the main pest threats.

Waxy grey-white colonies on stems and leaf undersides; rapid wilting and failed flower spikes. Crush colonies by hand; spray with insecticidal soap, pyrethrum, or neem oil; act at first sighting.

Ragged damage to crowns and young leaves in spring, sometimes killing plants outright. Iron phosphate pellets; night-time hand-picking; copper tape on raised beds; keep area free of debris.

C-shaped white larvae eat roots; adults notch leaf edges at night. Apply Steinernema nematode drench in late summer; check root balls when repotting; destroy larvae on sight.