What's eating my silver queen thyme?

Silver Queen Thyme faces its most serious pest in the rosemary beetle, which strips foliage and flowers from late summer onward. Spider mites are a secondary concern in hot dry spells. The variegated leaves make it a slightly more visible target; good air circulation around the low mounds keeps most problems manageable.

Striped metallic adults and larvae chew leaves and flower shoots, leaving skeletonised stems; active late summer to spring Shake the plant over a sheet and drop beetles into soapy water; hand-pick larvae; use pyrethrum spray if numbers are high

Tiny reddish-brown mites on leaf undersides cause pale, stippled foliage; colonies spin fine webbing in hot, dry weather Spray leaf undersides with water regularly; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; ensure good air circulation

Clusters on soft shoot tips cause curled leaves and sticky honeydew residue Knock off with a water jet; natural predators such as ladybirds usually keep populations in check