What's eating my white water lily?

White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba) is targeted by a trio of water-specific pests. The water lily beetle and its larvae rasp leaf surfaces into skeletal mats, while the water lily aphid clusters on pads and buds. Brown china mark moth larvae cut and roll pad sections. Avoid chemical pesticides near pond wildlife.

Adults and black grubs graze the upper leaf surface, leaving elongate slots; badly damaged leaves rot and disintegrate. Hose leaves down so larvae and adults fall into the water for fish to eat; remove pondside vegetation in autumn to deny overwintering sites.

Dense colonies on pads, stems, and buds; sap loss stunts growth and distorts flower buds. Knock aphids into the water with a firm jet of water so pond fish (koi, goldfish) can eat them; avoid chemical insecticides in the pond environment.

Caterpillars chew round holes in pads and cut oval pieces to construct protective cases; heavy infestations can kill the plant. Remove affected leaves and caterpillar cases by hand; pondside hygiene reduces adult moth habitat.