What's eating my nymphaea 'perry's fire opal'?

Nymphaea 'Perry's Fire Opal', a large semi-double pink-red hardy water lily, is attacked by the same pests as all Nymphaea. Water lily aphids are most common, colonising pads and flower buds. Water lily beetles cause slot-like grazing damage to leaves, China mark moth caterpillars cut disc-shaped holes, and ducks can shred pads in exposed garden ponds. Avoid all pesticide use in or near pond water.

Dense dark colonies on pads and developing buds; leaves curl and yellow; flowers may fail to open properly in bad infestations. Hose colonies off pads into the pond for fish to eat; briefly submerge pads; never spray insecticide into pond water.

Elongated brown grazing slots across upper leaf surfaces; dark slug-like larvae and small brown adult beetles both feed on pads. Wash larvae into water with a hose; submerge leaves for 24 hours; clear dead pondside vegetation where adults overwinter.

Oval or circular cuts in pads; caterpillars protected inside floating leaf-fragment cases visible on the water surface. Remove cases by hand; stock pond with fish for natural control; no pesticide needed in ponds with healthy wildlife balance.

Pads grazed, flower buds eaten before opening, and rhizomes uprooted by dabbling waterfowl in shallow garden ponds. Stretch low monofilament or fine mesh above the pond; position lily baskets at 45–60 cm depth to deter wading birds.