Pest identification
What's eating my parsley?
Parsleyworm (black swallowtail caterpillar)
Signs: Large sections of foliage eaten, sometimes down to bare stems; bold green-and-black striped caterpillars visible
Control: Hand-pick and relocate to wild host plants (Queen Anne's lace) if you want to conserve the butterfly; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray if numbers are damaging
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on stem tips; stunted, yellowed new leaves; sticky honeydew
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or a strong water jet; introduce or attract ladybirds and parasitic wasps
Carrot fly (Psila rosae)
Signs: Rusty tunnels in roots; yellowing, wilting foliage; plants collapse in severe attacks
Control: Cover with fine insect-proof mesh (50-mesh) from sowing; avoid bruising foliage (scent attracts females); rotate beds annually
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings clipped at soil level overnight; irregular holes in larger leaves; slime trails
Control: Use iron phosphate pellets or wool pellet barriers; set beer traps near seedlings; sow under cover and transplant when established
Keep parsley pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Parsley pests — FAQ
What is eating my parsley?
Parsley is a favourite food plant of the black swallowtail (parsleyworm) caterpillar, which can strip plants fast. Aphids cluster on soft growth, and carrot fly larvae tunnel roots. Slugs attack seedlings at ground level. In the US, parsleyworm is often left deliberately since it becomes a beautiful butterfly.
How do I get rid of parsleyworm (black swallowtail caterpillar) on parsley?
Large sections of foliage eaten, sometimes down to bare stems; bold green-and-black striped caterpillars visible Hand-pick and relocate to wild host plants (Queen Anne's lace) if you want to conserve the butterfly; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray if numbers are damaging
How do I get rid of aphids on parsley?
Dense colonies on stem tips; stunted, yellowed new leaves; sticky honeydew Spray with insecticidal soap or a strong water jet; introduce or attract ladybirds and parasitic wasps
How do I get rid of carrot fly (psila rosae) on parsley?
Rusty tunnels in roots; yellowing, wilting foliage; plants collapse in severe attacks Cover with fine insect-proof mesh (50-mesh) from sowing; avoid bruising foliage (scent attracts females); rotate beds annually
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on parsley?
Seedlings clipped at soil level overnight; irregular holes in larger leaves; slime trails Use iron phosphate pellets or wool pellet barriers; set beer traps near seedlings; sow under cover and transplant when established