What's eating my passiflora coccinea?

Passiflora coccinea (red passionflower) is most threatened by aphids and spider mites when grown as a tropical vine indoors or under glass. Outdoors in warm climates, caterpillars — particularly Heliconius and Gulf Fritillary larvae — eat foliage heavily. Check undersides of leaves regularly and act early to prevent infestations.

Clusters of soft insects on new shoot tips and flower buds cause distorted, sticky, curled growth with sooty mould developing on honeydew. Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly until clear; introduce ladybirds or parasitic wasps outdoors.

Fine stippling on leaves turning bronze or yellow; fine webbing on undersides, especially in hot, dry conditions. Raise humidity, mist foliage daily; wipe leaves with damp cloth; use miticide or neem oil spray; repeat every 5 days for 3 cycles.

Leaves are eaten down to the midrib; entire shoots can be stripped by larvae of Heliconius or Gulf Fritillary butterflies. Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray on young larvae; use row cover or netting where practical.