What's eating my pinellia tripartita?

Pinellia tripartita is a shade-loving Japanese garden aroid. Slugs are its most frequent attacker, targeting petioles and leaves at soil level. Aphids occasionally colonize slender flower peduncles. In containers, fungus gnats breed in wet compost and larvae damage roots and cormlets, weakening the plant noticeably.

Ragged notches on leaf blades and petioles at ground level; slime trails across surrounding soil. Scatter iron-phosphate pellets; use coarse grit mulch; hand-pick at night during wet or mild weather.

Sticky honeydew on peduncles and leaves; small green or black colonies on new growth. Remove by hand or water spray; treat with insecticidal soap; introduce predatory insects where feasible.

Adults hover around pot soil; larvae eat fine roots and cormlets, causing yellowing and weak growth. Let soil surface dry between waterings; drench with Steinernema feltiae; use yellow sticky traps to monitor adults.