Pest identification
What's eating my prince's feather?
Amaranthus webworm caterpillar
Signs: Dense silk webbing enclosing shoot tips; skeletonised or wholly consumed leaves inside the web.
Control: Cut out and destroy webbed clusters; spray Bt on young larvae; clear old stems and debris after harvest.
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on stems and tender leaves; sticky honeydew; wilting shoot tips.
Control: Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray; introduce ladybirds and lacewings.
Flea beetles
Signs: Scattered small holes in leaves, especially on seedlings; heavy infestations cause leaf drop.
Control: Use row covers over seedlings; apply diatomaceous earth; ensure fast-growing transplants to outpace damage.
Seed-eating birds (sparrows, finches)
Signs: Mature seed heads stripped before harvest; stems bent or broken.
Control: Drape bird netting over ripening heads; use reflective tape or bird-scare devices near the crop.
Keep prince's feather pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Prince's feather pests — FAQ
What is eating my prince's feather?
Prince's feather (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) attracts the same pests as other tall amaranths: aphids on young growth, flea beetles riddling seedling leaves, and the Amaranthus webworm caterpillar webbing up shoot tips. Tarnished plant bugs also attack. As a grain crop, it may additionally draw seed-eating birds at maturity.
How do I get rid of amaranthus webworm caterpillar on prince's feather?
Dense silk webbing enclosing shoot tips; skeletonised or wholly consumed leaves inside the web. Cut out and destroy webbed clusters; spray Bt on young larvae; clear old stems and debris after harvest.
How do I get rid of aphids on prince's feather?
Colonies on stems and tender leaves; sticky honeydew; wilting shoot tips. Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray; introduce ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on prince's feather?
Scattered small holes in leaves, especially on seedlings; heavy infestations cause leaf drop. Use row covers over seedlings; apply diatomaceous earth; ensure fast-growing transplants to outpace damage.
How do I get rid of seed-eating birds (sparrows, finches) on prince's feather?
Mature seed heads stripped before harvest; stems bent or broken. Drape bird netting over ripening heads; use reflective tape or bird-scare devices near the crop.