What's eating my spring snowflake?

Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum) is generally hardy and pest-resistant, but narcissus bulb fly is the most serious threat, with larvae destroying bulbs from inside. Slugs attack early spring shoots. In wet soils, bulb mites can damage stored or in-ground bulbs. Its toxicity makes it unattractive to deer, rabbits, and most rodents.

Fat larva tunnels into the bulb; plant fails to re-emerge or produces only thin, flowerless foliage Cover dying leaves in late spring with fine netting to block egg-laying flies; remove and destroy any hollow bulbs found at lifting time

Ragged, chewed leaf tips and scapes on emerging growth; silvery slime trails on soil Iron phosphate pellets applied around emerging shoots; coarse grit barrier; hand-pick on damp evenings

Soft, pitted patches on outer bulb scales; reduced vigour and poor flowering in poorly drained or wet soils Ensure excellent drainage; discard soft or damaged bulbs before planting; allow lifted bulbs to dry thoroughly before storage