What's eating my wonderful pomegranate?

Wonderful Pomegranate is targeted by pomegranate butterfly caterpillars, leaf-footed bugs that suck developing fruit, aphids on new growth, and birds or squirrels that peck ripe fruit. Thrips can damage flowers and young fruit in warm climates. Good garden hygiene and monitoring from flowering onward keeps losses manageable.

Caterpillars bore into developing fruit, causing premature drop and internal rot; entry holes visible on fruit skin. Bag individual fruits with paper bags just after petal fall; remove and destroy fallen fruits immediately.

Adults and nymphs pierce developing fruits, causing internal discolouration and premature splitting. Hand-pick adults and egg masses; insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray in morning when bugs are sluggish.

Colonies on new growth and flower buds; honeydew promotes sooty mould and attracts ants. Strong water jet to dislodge; neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; control attending ants.

Flowers and developing fruit skin show silvery-brown scarring; heavy infestation causes fruit drop. Remove affected flowers; apply spinosad or neem oil spray at bud stage.