What's eating my stratiotes aloides?

Water soldier, a semi-submerged pond plant, is grazed by coots and waterfowl that pull the rosettes apart. The water soldier moth's larvae are specialist feeders on its leaves. Aphids attack emergent leaf tips in summer. Its sharp, serrated leaves deter casual browsing by most animals, and it sinks to winter depths largely out of reach of surface feeders.

Larvae mine and skeletonise leaves within a case; characteristic leaf-case constructions visible on plant Remove infested leaves and cases; natural parasitoid wasps and pond predators usually limit outbreaks; no chemical treatment in ponds

Colonies on leaf tips above waterline in summer; yellowing and sticky deposits on serrated leaves Hose off with water; submerge plant temporarily so fish can access aphids; encourage pond-margin predators

Rosettes pulled up, torn, and eaten; plants dragged to pond margins and shredded Use pond netting in smaller garden ponds; plant in deeper water where access is harder