What's eating my pereskia aculeata?

Pereskia aculeata (Barbados gooseberry) is a spiny tropical edible vine threatened outdoors by aphids massing on soft new growth and caterpillars that shred the leaves. Spider mites and whitefly appear in humid sheltered spots. Scale insects colonise woody stems. Birds may take ripe berries but do minimal foliage harm.

Colonies on shoot tips and leaf undersides; distort new leaves, excrete sticky honeydew that fosters sooty mould, and weaken young growth Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; introduce ladybirds or lacewing larvae as biological control

Ragged or skeletonised leaf damage; larger caterpillars consume whole leaves; frass (droppings) visible on leaves below feeding site Handpick caterpillars and egg masses; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage; check undersides of leaves regularly

Tiny white adults fly up when foliage is disturbed; nymphs on leaf undersides cause yellowing and honeydew deposits Use yellow sticky traps; spray insecticidal soap targeting leaf undersides; introduce Encarsia formosa parasitic wasp in greenhouse settings

Hard or soft waxy shells on woody stems and branch nodes; sap-feeding causes pale stems and reduced fruit production Scrub scales with a soapy brush; apply horticultural oil during dormancy; use systemic insecticide for severe infestations