What's eating my pelargonium 'lara starshine'?

Pelargonium 'Lara Starshine', a scented-leaf herb type, is most affected by aphids on soft growing tips. Its strong aromatic oils make it very unattractive to deer and rabbits. Spider mites can occur in dry conditions. Caterpillars and vine weevil are occasional problems, though less common than on non-scented types.

Colonies on new soft growth and shoot tips; even aromatic foliage does not fully deter aphids; honeydew and sooty mould. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; dislodge with water; check undersides of leaves regularly.

Fine pale stippling and webbing on leaf undersides, worse in hot, dry summers or indoors near heating. Increase humidity; spray leaf undersides with water; apply insecticidal soap or introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predators.

Holes in aromatic leaves; some caterpillars tolerate the oils and will feed despite the scent. Pick off by hand; spray with Bacillus thuringiensis; remove egg clusters found on leaf undersides.

Root-feeding grubs damage container specimens; adults make notched cuts around the leaf margins at night. Apply nematode drench to containers in late summer; annual repotting helps detect and remove grubs early.