What's eating my dwarf astilbe 'pumila'?

Dwarf Astilbe 'Pumila' is generally low-maintenance but shares the astilbe family's main vulnerability: black vine weevil larvae in the roots. Its compact, ground-hugging habit also makes it prone to adult root weevil notching. Asiatic garden beetle and spider mites are secondary warm-season concerns.

Half-moon notches cut into leaf margins by adults; larvae destroy the root system, causing plants to wilt and die, often visible in late summer. Apply beneficial nematodes to damp soil in late summer; treat adults with an evening spray of acephate, azadirachtin, or carbaryl.

Reddish-brown adults feed on foliage from late June into July, leaving jagged holes; grubs attack roots in the soil. Hand-pick and destroy adults at night; apply milky spore or Heterorhabditis nematodes to target soil-dwelling grubs.

Fine stippling and yellowing of leaves, worst in hot and dry weather; delicate webbing may appear on leaf undersides. Improve plant moisture and airflow; dislodge mites with a strong water spray; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if populations persist.