What's eating my nymphaea 'james brydon'?

Nymphaea 'James Brydon', a richly coloured cup-shaped pink-red water lily, shares the pest profile of all hardy Nymphaea. Water lily aphids colonise pads and buds, water lily beetles skeletonise leaves, China mark moth caterpillars cut disc-shaped holes, and waterfowl can graze foliage in open garden ponds. Hosing pests off into the water is the safest control method.

Masses of dark aphids on leaves and developing buds; honeydew causes sooty growth and flowers may not open. Dislodge with a water hose so fish eat them; temporarily submerge leaves; never spray pesticide directly into pond water.

Elongated brown grazing slots across pads from adult beetles and black larvae feeding on upper surfaces. Hose larvae off; push leaves below water for 24 hours; trim and dispose of dead marginal rushes where adults overwinter.

Circular cut-outs from pad edges and surfaces; leaf-case-carrying caterpillars float at water level near pads. Hand-remove cases; use fish stocking to provide natural predation; no chemical control needed in well-balanced ponds.

Pads, buds, and flowers grazed off; rhizomes uprooted in shallow water; worst damage in urban ponds with bold birds. Stretch low monofilament or netting above pond surface; keep lilies in deep enough water (45–60 cm) that diving becomes difficult.