Pest identification
What's eating my spottted horsemint?
Aphids
Signs: Small colonies on new stem tips and buds; honeydew and light leaf curl in warm dry conditions
Control: Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap spray; plant with nectar companions to draw in parasitic wasps
Spider mites
Signs: Fine stippling and pale bronzing of leaves in hot summers; faint webbing on undersides of leaves
Control: Increase irrigation to raise humidity; neem oil spray on leaf undersides; introduce predatory mites for persistent infestations
Caterpillars (native moth species)
Signs: Irregular holes in leaves or partial defoliation of individual stems in late summer
Control: Hand-pick and relocate caterpillars; Bt spray if damage is severe; accept light feeding as part of native plant ecosystem value
Keep spottted horsemint pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Spottted Horsemint pests — FAQ
What is eating my spottted horsemint?
Spotted Horsemint is a tough native wildflower with aromatic foliage that repels many insects. Aphids occasionally settle on stem tips; spider mites appear in hot dry spells. Caterpillars of specialist native moths may feed on foliage. Deer tend to avoid it, but rabbits occasionally browse young growth. It is broadly pest-resistant and needs little intervention.
How do I get rid of aphids on spottted horsemint?
Small colonies on new stem tips and buds; honeydew and light leaf curl in warm dry conditions Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap spray; plant with nectar companions to draw in parasitic wasps
How do I get rid of spider mites on spottted horsemint?
Fine stippling and pale bronzing of leaves in hot summers; faint webbing on undersides of leaves Increase irrigation to raise humidity; neem oil spray on leaf undersides; introduce predatory mites for persistent infestations
How do I get rid of caterpillars (native moth species) on spottted horsemint?
Irregular holes in leaves or partial defoliation of individual stems in late summer Hand-pick and relocate caterpillars; Bt spray if damage is severe; accept light feeding as part of native plant ecosystem value