What's eating my sanvitalia procumbens 'mandarin orange'?

Sanvitalia 'Mandarin Orange' shares the species' good pest resistance. Aphids are the most common nuisance, with spider mites a secondary risk in dry weather. Whitefly occasionally settles in the trailing foliage. The plant's vigour and drought tolerance mean established specimens tolerate light pest pressure without significant flower loss.

Soft colonies on shoot tips and young leaves; sticky honeydew residue and minor curling of tender growth. Dislodge with a water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; repeat as needed through summer.

Pale, stippled leaves with fine webbing; worse in hot, dry periods particularly on plants in containers. Keep plants well-watered; spray neem oil to leaf undersides; mist trailing stems in prolonged dry spells.

White clouds when foliage is disturbed; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on leaves below infested stems. Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap sprays; remove heavily colonised trailing stems to reduce population.