What's eating my wild lupine?

Wild Lupine's worst enemy is the lupin aphid — huge colonies that collapse stems. Slug damage to young plants is severe in wet springs. Pea and bean weevils notch leaf margins, and rabbits often graze stands to the ground. Early pest monitoring in spring is critical for this species.

Large gray-green colonies on stems and flower spikes; leaves curl and yellow; honeydew coats foliage and attracts sooty mold. Knock colonies off with a strong water jet; use insecticidal soap or pyrethrin sprays; introduce parasitic wasps where available.

Seedlings and young crowns eaten to soil level overnight; older plants show ragged leaf holes and silver slime trails. Iron phosphate pellets placed around plants at dusk; use grit or crushed eggshell mulch as a barrier; hand-pick after dark.

Distinctive scalloped notches around leaf margins created by adults; larvae feed on nitrogen-fixing root nodules, weakening plants. Tolerate minor notching on established plants; protect seedlings with row cover; avoid repeated soil disturbance that exposes larvae.

Clean-cut stems close to ground level; entire young plants removed; damage concentrated at plant base. Install chicken-wire guards around individual plants or block off the bed perimeter; apply rabbit repellent sprays.