What's eating my nymphaea 'albert greenberg'?

Nymphaea 'Albert Greenberg' is a day-blooming tropical water lily facing the same aquatic pest community as related cultivars. Water lily aphids and beetles are the main threats in summer. As a tropical it should be brought indoors before frost, and indoor overwintering largely eliminates pest pressure until the following season.

Black-brown colonies cluster on pad undersides and flower buds, causing yellowing, honeydew, sooty mold, and weakened bloom production. Hose aphids into the pond for fish to eat. Remove badly affected pads. Avoid insecticides in the water.

Larvae skeletonize pad surfaces with longitudinal tracks that brown and rot, steadily reducing the plant's leaf area. Knock larvae off into the water with a hose. Remove and compost damaged pads promptly.

Ducks and geese will graze vigorously on large tropical lily pads and emerging flower stalks in accessible garden ponds. Stretch monofilament deterrent lines across the pond. Maintain pond depth of at least 45 cm to reduce wading access.