What's eating my shield sundew?

Drosera peltata is a tuberous climbing sundew from Australia and Asia. Active in spring, dormant as a tuber in summer. Aphids attack the thin climbing stems and flower stalks, and fungus gnat larvae can damage the tuber in overly wet media. The sticky peltate leaves deal with most flying insects; the substrate and stem are the vulnerable points.

Small colonies on the wiry climbing stem and flower stalk, which carry no sticky glands; distorted shoot tips and white shed skins are early signs Remove by hand or with a fine water rinse; for larger infestations, apply a dilute neem oil or insecticide spray to stems only, keeping it off the trapping leaves

Larvae in the substrate can chew the shallow tuber as well as surface roots; the plant fails to emerge strongly from dormancy or produces weak, thin stems Use a lean, low-organic sand and peat mix; apply Bti drench in the active growth season; let the substrate dry during summer dormancy to deter egg-laying adults

Fuzzy gray mold on spent flower stems or dying leaves in damp, poorly ventilated conditions; can track down the stem to healthier tissue Remove affected material with clean scissors; improve air circulation; apply Physan 20 or a copper-based fungicide diluted to the lowest effective rate