What's eating my nicotiana sylvestris?

Nicotiana sylvestris, the woodland tobacco, has intensely sticky stems that trap and deter some insects, but aphids still colonise stems and undersides of its large leaves. Tobacco hornworm caterpillars can strip plants fast. Slugs and snails graze the broad basal leaves. Whitefly can build up in warm, sheltered spots.

Colonies on leaf undersides and stems despite stickiness; yellowing leaves, honeydew. Neem oil or insecticidal soap spray targeting leaf undersides; blast accessible areas with water.

Entire leaves consumed very rapidly; large green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes visible on stems. Handpick caterpillars (check under large leaves daily); Bt spray; encourage parasitic wasps by growing umbellifers nearby.

Large irregular holes in the broad lower leaves, especially in wet weather. Iron phosphate pellets; gritty mulch around base; hand-pick at night.

Tiny white insects clustering on leaf undersides; sticky honeydew and black sooty mould. Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap spray to undersides of leaves; avoid overfeeding with nitrogen.