What's eating my egyptian star flower?

Pentas grown outdoors attracts aphids and spider mites, while caterpillars can chew flowers and leaves. Whitefly is a common pest on indoor or container plants. The good news: Pentas also draws beneficial insects that help with natural control. Remove aphid colonies early and keep plants well-watered to reduce mite stress.

Clusters of soft insects on flower stems and new shoots; sticky honeydew; distorted buds that fail to open Blast with a strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract ladybirds by planting nearby companion flowers

Pale, stippled leaves especially in hot dry spells; fine webbing on undersides; reduced flowering Increase watering and humidity around plants; spray with neem oil or miticide; avoid drought stress

Irregular holes in leaves and petals; frass (droppings) on foliage Hand-pick caterpillars in the evening; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray as a safe biological control