Pest identification
What's eating my snow peas?
Aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum — pea aphid)
Signs: Colonies on stems and pods cause distorted growth, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold; vector pea mosaic viruses.
Control: Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage parasitic wasps and ladybirds.
Pea moth (Cydia nigricana)
Signs: Caterpillars tunnel inside pods and eat developing seeds; entry holes are visible on the pod.
Control: Use fine mesh or fleece row covers from flowering; pheromone traps help monitor adult flight periods.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in leaves and stems, especially on seedlings; slime trails on the soil and foliage.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets or copper tape around beds; hand-pick at night; encourage ground beetles.
Birds and rabbits
Signs: Birds peck out seeds at germination and nip tender shoots; rabbits bite stems cleanly at ground level.
Control: Cover rows with bird netting from sowing; use a wire-mesh perimeter fence (30 cm buried) to exclude rabbits.
Keep snow peas pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Snow peas pests — FAQ
What is eating my snow peas?
Snow peas are targeted by aphids, pea moths, and slugs in the garden, while birds and rabbits raid young shoots. Aphids are the most persistent threat — they cluster on new growth and spread viruses. Protect with row covers early, encourage ladybirds, and net against birds and rabbits.
How do I get rid of aphids (acyrthosiphon pisum — pea aphid) on snow peas?
Colonies on stems and pods cause distorted growth, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold; vector pea mosaic viruses. Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage parasitic wasps and ladybirds.
How do I get rid of pea moth (cydia nigricana) on snow peas?
Caterpillars tunnel inside pods and eat developing seeds; entry holes are visible on the pod. Use fine mesh or fleece row covers from flowering; pheromone traps help monitor adult flight periods.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on snow peas?
Ragged holes in leaves and stems, especially on seedlings; slime trails on the soil and foliage. Apply iron phosphate pellets or copper tape around beds; hand-pick at night; encourage ground beetles.
How do I get rid of birds and rabbits on snow peas?
Birds peck out seeds at germination and nip tender shoots; rabbits bite stems cleanly at ground level. Cover rows with bird netting from sowing; use a wire-mesh perimeter fence (30 cm buried) to exclude rabbits.