What's eating my new guinea impatiens?

New Guinea Impatiens is primarily grown outdoors in beds and containers, where thrips, aphids, and spider mites cause the most damage. Downy mildew (a pathogen) is also devastating but this is a pest guide: the key animal/insect threats are thrips on flowers, aphids on new growth, and vine weevil in pots. Slugs attack young transplants.

Silver-streaked, distorted petals and flower buds; tiny dark frass on blooms; flowers drop prematurely Remove and bin affected flowers; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap spray; use blue sticky traps; avoid overhead watering

Dense colonies on succulent stems and shoot tips; sticky honeydew; distorted young leaves Spray with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5 days; encourage natural predators outdoors

Larvae destroy roots in pots causing sudden wilting; adults cut notches in leaf margins at night Apply Steinernema kraussei nematode drench to containers in early autumn; use sticky pot-rim barriers; inspect roots when repotting

Ragged holes in soft leaves and stems, particularly damaging to young transplants; mucus trails overnight Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around plants; hand-pick at dusk; copper tape on containers; avoid evening watering