What's eating my osteospermum 'voltage yellow'?

Osteospermum 'Voltage Yellow' is targeted mainly by aphids and whitefly outdoors, with spider mites a risk in hot, dry spells. Slugs and snails nibble young foliage in cool, wet conditions. Good air circulation, regular inspection, and prompt insecticidal soap treatment keep most pests manageable.

Clustered soft-bodied insects on shoot tips and flower buds cause distorted, sticky growth with sooty mould developing on honeydew. Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.

Tiny white flies cloud up when plants are disturbed; nymphs suck sap on leaf undersides, leaving yellow stippling and sticky residue. Yellow sticky traps to monitor numbers; insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray in early morning; remove heavily infested shoots.

Fine webbing on leaf undersides with pale, bronze-stippled upper surfaces; worse in hot, dry weather. Increase humidity, mist foliage; apply neem oil or miticide spray; remove and dispose of heavily infested leaves.

Ragged holes in young leaves and petals, slime trails visible at night or after rain. Hand-pick at dusk; use copper tape around containers; apply iron phosphate slug pellets (wildlife-safe).