What's eating my pelargonium 'distinction'?

Pelargonium 'Distinction', a single-flowered zonal geranium with a distinctive dark leaf zone, is most commonly attacked by aphids and vine weevil. Geranium sawfly larvae can skeletonise leaves in summer. Caterpillars and whitefly may also cause problems when the plant is grown outdoors in containers or borders.

Curled, sticky new shoots; sooty mould deposits; flowers may fail to open cleanly. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days; pinch out heavily colonised tips.

Sudden plant wilt; cream grubs found in compost eating the roots. Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist compost in late summer; use a preventive vine weevil drench.

Window-pane or skeletonised patches on leaves, often starting on lower or inner foliage. Check undersides of leaves weekly; hand-pick larvae; spray with pyrethrum or spinosad.