Pest identification
What's eating my stock?
Aphids (mealy cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae)
Signs: Powdery grey-green colonies on stems and leaf undersides; distorted shoot tips; honeydew and sooty mould.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; crush colonies by hand; encourage parasitic wasps.
Caterpillars (cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae)
Signs: Holes in leaves progressing to complete defoliation; pale green caterpillars found on foliage.
Control: Check undersides of leaves for eggs; hand-pick; apply Bt spray; cover plants with fine mesh.
Flea beetles
Signs: Round shot-holes scattered across leaves; seedlings especially vulnerable in warm, dry spells.
Control: Use insect-proof mesh; apply diatomaceous earth; keep seedlings well-watered to accelerate growth past vulnerable stage.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Shredded or severed stems at ground level; slime trails on nearby soil and foliage.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets; set beer traps; water in the morning so soil dries before evening.
Keep stock pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Stock pests — FAQ
What is eating my stock?
Stock (Matthiola incana) is a brassica-family plant and shares that family's main pests: caterpillars including cabbage white butterfly larvae, aphids on tender shoots, and flea beetles riddling leaves with holes. Slugs attack seedlings and young transplants. Aphids are the most consistent problem across the growing season.
How do I get rid of aphids (mealy cabbage aphid, brevicoryne brassicae) on stock?
Powdery grey-green colonies on stems and leaf undersides; distorted shoot tips; honeydew and sooty mould. Spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; crush colonies by hand; encourage parasitic wasps.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (cabbage white butterfly, pieris rapae) on stock?
Holes in leaves progressing to complete defoliation; pale green caterpillars found on foliage. Check undersides of leaves for eggs; hand-pick; apply Bt spray; cover plants with fine mesh.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on stock?
Round shot-holes scattered across leaves; seedlings especially vulnerable in warm, dry spells. Use insect-proof mesh; apply diatomaceous earth; keep seedlings well-watered to accelerate growth past vulnerable stage.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on stock?
Shredded or severed stems at ground level; slime trails on nearby soil and foliage. Apply iron phosphate pellets; set beer traps; water in the morning so soil dries before evening.