Pest identification
What's eating my muster-john-henry?
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Bronze or grey stippling on leaves; fine webbing; worse when plants are water-stressed
Control: Maintain adequate moisture; neem oil or miticide spray; increase humidity around plants
Aphids
Signs: Colonies of soft-bodied insects on young shoot tips; honeydew residue
Control: Water jet; insecticidal soap; beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps naturally control colonies
Keep muster-john-henry pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Muster-John-Henry pests — FAQ
What is eating my muster-john-henry?
Muster-John-Henry (Tagetes minuta) is a tall, strongly aromatic marigold used as a nematode-suppressing cover crop. Its intense scent repels most insects, making pest pressure low. Spider mites can attack in drought stress. Aphids may appear on young plants, and whitefly occasionally settles on the dense foliage.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on muster-john-henry?
Bronze or grey stippling on leaves; fine webbing; worse when plants are water-stressed Maintain adequate moisture; neem oil or miticide spray; increase humidity around plants
How do I get rid of aphids on muster-john-henry?
Colonies of soft-bodied insects on young shoot tips; honeydew residue Water jet; insecticidal soap; beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps naturally control colonies