Pest identification
What's eating my veronica beccabunga?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on soft shoot tips cause distortion and yellowing; honeydew encourages sooty mould.
Control: Knock off with water jets; encourage ladybirds and lacewings; remove the worst-affected shoot tips.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Rasp irregular holes in leaves, particularly young growth, especially in damp conditions.
Control: Hand-pick at dusk; place beer or citrus traps at the waterline; apply iron-phosphate pellets away from water.
Sawfly larvae
Signs: Pale green larvae skeletonise leaves in early summer, leaving a papery translucent layer.
Control: Hand-pick larvae; blast with water; spray with an insecticidal soap if numbers are high.
Keep veronica beccabunga pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Veronica beccabunga pests — FAQ
What is eating my veronica beccabunga?
Veronica beccabunga (brooklime) is a native waterside flowering plant. Aphids are the most frequent pest on stems and leaves. Slugs and snails attack foliage at the water margin, and waterfowl browse the fleshy stems. Sawfly larvae can skeletonise leaves in early summer. The plant is vigorous and usually recovers quickly from light damage.
How do I get rid of aphids on veronica beccabunga?
Colonies on soft shoot tips cause distortion and yellowing; honeydew encourages sooty mould. Knock off with water jets; encourage ladybirds and lacewings; remove the worst-affected shoot tips.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on veronica beccabunga?
Rasp irregular holes in leaves, particularly young growth, especially in damp conditions. Hand-pick at dusk; place beer or citrus traps at the waterline; apply iron-phosphate pellets away from water.
How do I get rid of sawfly larvae on veronica beccabunga?
Pale green larvae skeletonise leaves in early summer, leaving a papery translucent layer. Hand-pick larvae; blast with water; spray with an insecticidal soap if numbers are high.