What's eating my pelargonium 'snowflake'?

Pelargonium 'Snowflake', a white-variegated scented-leaf pelargonium, is susceptible to aphids, whitefly, and spider mites. The pale variegated leaves can mask early spider mite stippling, so check undersides regularly. Vine weevil grubs threaten container-grown plants. Aphids are the most common pest.

Colonies of soft insects on shoot tips and buds; honeydew, distorted new leaves, and reduced vigour. Remove by hand or water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; use biological controls such as Aphidius wasps under glass.

Clouds of white insects disturbed from foliage; honeydew-coated, yellowing leaves with sooty mould. Yellow sticky traps; pyrethrin or insecticidal soap spray repeated weekly until population is eliminated.

Pale speckling on leaf surfaces and webbing beneath; stippling is harder to spot on variegated leaves. Raise humidity; mist undersides of leaves; apply neem oil or introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis.

Notched leaf margins from adult beetles; white grubs in the root zone cause sudden pot plant collapse. Nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; inspect roots when repotting and remove grubs by hand.