What's eating my snapdragon 'madame butterfly'?

Snapdragon 'Madame Butterfly' (the azalea-flowered double form) faces aphids on the densely packed florets, thrips inside the blooms, and occasional budworm damage. The doubled flower structure can trap moisture and pests alike. Slugs threaten seedlings. Aphids are the most consistently reported pest on all Antirrhinum; inspect the flower spikes and stem tips weekly.

Green or black soft-bodied colonies on flower stems and inside the ruffled double blooms; sticky deposits and stunted growth. Water-jet spray followed by insecticidal soap or neem oil; crush small colonies by hand; repeat every 5–7 days until clear.

Petals show pale silver flecking and edge-browning; the layered double flowers trap insects and show damage early. Spinosad spray applied into and around flower heads; blue sticky traps for monitoring; remove and bag affected blooms.

Holes bored into buds and florets with frass at the entry point; affected flowers fail to develop and turn brown. Bt spray (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) targeting young larvae; handpick caterpillars; deadhead regularly to remove egg-laying sites.

Young transplants and seedlings at ground level eaten; damage concentrated on cool wet nights in spring. Iron phosphate pellets scattered around the base; copper foil collars on pots; transplant only sturdy, well-hardened-off seedlings.