What's eating my nymphaea 'pygmaea helvola'?

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola' is a miniature yellow water lily best suited to small ponds and containers. Its small size makes pads especially vulnerable: water lily aphids can cover them rapidly, water lily beetles cause proportionally larger grazing damage, and even a single duck visit can devastate a mini pond. China mark moth and beetles are common. Physical controls are essential — no pesticides in the water.

Dark colonies rapidly cover the small pads and buds; on a miniature lily, even moderate infestations can stop all flowering. Hose off gently into the water; briefly submerge the entire plant; add small goldfish to containers or ponds to keep numbers down.

Elongated grazing slots on the upper surface of the small pads; damage looks proportionally severe on this dwarf cultivar. Wash larvae off with water; submerge pads for 24 hours; remove dead waterside plants where adult beetles overwinter.

Round sections cut from the small pads; on a miniature lily, even a few caterpillars can remove most of the leaf area. Remove leaf cases by hand; fish in the pond naturally limit populations; no chemical treatment recommended.

Entire tiny plants grazed off or uprooted; a single duck can strip a small pond of 'Pygmaea Helvola' in minutes. Net small ponds or container ponds completely; use monofilament line over the water surface to deter landing waterfowl.