Pest identification
What's eating my silky lupine?
Lupine aphid (Macrosiphum albifrons)
Signs: Tight colonies on shoot tips; yellowing, curling foliage; honeydew and sooty mould may follow.
Control: Spray off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem; attract and protect ladybirds and lacewings.
Caterpillars
Signs: Ragged holes in leaves and stems; frass visible; severe infestations defoliate plants.
Control: Hand-pick; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray targeting young larvae.
Deer & rabbits
Signs: Stems and foliage browsed, often leaving only bare stumps in spring.
Control: Use hardware cloth cages around individual plants; apply deer repellent; plant in protected areas.
Keep silky lupine pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Silky Lupine pests — FAQ
What is eating my silky lupine?
Silky Lupine, a western US native perennial, is most vulnerable to lupine aphids on its soft new shoots. Caterpillars and leaf-mining insects occasionally cause cosmetic damage. Deer and rabbits may graze plants in range or garden settings. The silky leaf coating does not reliably deter pests.
How do I get rid of lupine aphid (macrosiphum albifrons) on silky lupine?
Tight colonies on shoot tips; yellowing, curling foliage; honeydew and sooty mould may follow. Spray off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem; attract and protect ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of caterpillars on silky lupine?
Ragged holes in leaves and stems; frass visible; severe infestations defoliate plants. Hand-pick; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray targeting young larvae.
How do I get rid of deer & rabbits on silky lupine?
Stems and foliage browsed, often leaving only bare stumps in spring. Use hardware cloth cages around individual plants; apply deer repellent; plant in protected areas.