Pest identification
What's eating my narcissus 'pipit'?
Narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris)
Signs: Bulbs feel soft and hollow; larvae eat the interior leaving a rotten core; plant fails to flower.
Control: Net beds after flowering to exclude egg-laying flies; inspect and discard spongy bulbs at lifting time.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Shredded or holed emerging spathes and leaves, slime trails visible in the morning.
Control: Use iron phosphate slug pellets; create a grit or sharp-sand barrier around clumps; water in morning not evening.
Aphids
Signs: Sticky residue and distorted flower buds; colonies visible on stems.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or a diluted neem solution; attract hoverflies by planting nearby umbellifers.
Keep narcissus 'pipit' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Narcissus 'Pipit' pests — FAQ
What is eating my narcissus 'pipit'?
Narcissus 'Pipit' shares the genus's natural toxicity, so deer, rabbits, and most rodents leave it alone. Narcissus bulb fly is the primary serious pest, with slugs attacking soft new growth and aphids occasionally colonising flower stems. Birds may peck at opening blooms in early spring.
How do I get rid of narcissus bulb fly (merodon equestris) on narcissus 'pipit'?
Bulbs feel soft and hollow; larvae eat the interior leaving a rotten core; plant fails to flower. Net beds after flowering to exclude egg-laying flies; inspect and discard spongy bulbs at lifting time.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on narcissus 'pipit'?
Shredded or holed emerging spathes and leaves, slime trails visible in the morning. Use iron phosphate slug pellets; create a grit or sharp-sand barrier around clumps; water in morning not evening.
How do I get rid of aphids on narcissus 'pipit'?
Sticky residue and distorted flower buds; colonies visible on stems. Spray with insecticidal soap or a diluted neem solution; attract hoverflies by planting nearby umbellifers.