What's eating my menyanthes trifoliata?

Bogbean is an aquatic marginal and largely pest-resistant in its natural waterlogged habitat. Water lily aphids are the most realistic pest, colonising stems and leaves above the waterline. Caterpillars occasionally shred the emergent foliage, and waterfowl such as ducks and moorhens may graze or uproot plants in garden ponds.

Dense colonies on stems, leaf stalks, and flower buds above the waterline; sticky honeydew and sooty mould Hose colonies into the pond water where fish will consume them; avoid chemical sprays near open water; lady beetle predators help reduce numbers

Holes and irregular shredding of the tri-lobed emergent leaves; frass visible on damaged tissue Hand-pick larvae; Bt spray targeted on affected foliage, applied carefully away from the pond surface

Leaves torn or eaten; rhizomes uprooted by birds foraging in shallow water Protect new plantings with fine mesh or netting until established; plant in wire mesh baskets to secure rhizomes