Pest identification
What's eating my million bells 'superbells'?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew; distorted growth and honeydew-coated leaves.
Control: Spray off with a strong water jet. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days. Hoverflies and ladybirds are effective natural predators.
Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens)
Signs: Flower buds with small entry holes that fail to open; petals chewed; larvae hidden inside spent blooms.
Control: Remove and destroy affected buds. Spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad in the evening and repeat weekly.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling on leaves and small stems; fine webbing visible in hot, dry weather.
Control: Increase watering frequency. Spray foliage — especially undersides — with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Avoid water stress, which favours mite outbreaks.
Keep million bells 'superbells' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Million Bells 'Superbells' pests — FAQ
What is eating my million bells 'superbells'?
Million Bells 'Superbells' (Calibrachoa) are closely related to petunias and share similar pest pressure. Aphids are the most common pest, colonising stem tips and buds. Tobacco budworms occasionally target flowers. Spider mites can appear in dry heat. Calibrachoa tolerates pests well if watered and fed consistently — vigorous plants outgrow minor infestations.
How do I get rid of aphids on million bells 'superbells'?
Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew; distorted growth and honeydew-coated leaves. Spray off with a strong water jet. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days. Hoverflies and ladybirds are effective natural predators.
How do I get rid of tobacco budworm (heliothis virescens) on million bells 'superbells'?
Flower buds with small entry holes that fail to open; petals chewed; larvae hidden inside spent blooms. Remove and destroy affected buds. Spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad in the evening and repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of spider mites on million bells 'superbells'?
Pale stippling on leaves and small stems; fine webbing visible in hot, dry weather. Increase watering frequency. Spray foliage — especially undersides — with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Avoid water stress, which favours mite outbreaks.