Pest identification
What's eating my yellow marliac water lily?
Water lily aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae)
Signs: Visible as green or brown clusters on pads, stems, and buds; causes yellowing, leaf curl, and bud failure.
Control: Hose colonies into the pond water for goldfish or koi to eat; submerge pads for a day or two to drown stubborn colonies.
Water lily beetle (Galerucella nymphaeae)
Signs: Larvae strip the upper leaf surface, creating holes and causing leaves to shrivel; adult beetles also feed on flowers.
Control: Submerge leaves briefly to drown larvae; remove overwintering pondside plants or cut them back in autumn.
Brown china mark moth (Elophila nymphaeata)
Signs: Caterpillars cut oval leaf flaps and fold them into floating cases; round holes appear in pads.
Control: Hand-pick cases; reduce adult moth habitat by clearing dense marginal vegetation near the pond.
Keep yellow marliac water lily pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Yellow Marliac Water Lily pests — FAQ
What is eating my yellow marliac water lily?
Yellow Marliac Water Lily (Nymphaea 'Marliacea Chromatella') is one of the most popular hardy water lilies and shares the standard pond pest trio. The water lily aphid is the most frequently reported problem; beetles follow. Never use chemical pesticides in a pond — dislodge pests into the water so fish can feed on them.
How do I get rid of water lily aphid (rhopalosiphum nymphaeae) on yellow marliac water lily?
Visible as green or brown clusters on pads, stems, and buds; causes yellowing, leaf curl, and bud failure. Hose colonies into the pond water for goldfish or koi to eat; submerge pads for a day or two to drown stubborn colonies.
How do I get rid of water lily beetle (galerucella nymphaeae) on yellow marliac water lily?
Larvae strip the upper leaf surface, creating holes and causing leaves to shrivel; adult beetles also feed on flowers. Submerge leaves briefly to drown larvae; remove overwintering pondside plants or cut them back in autumn.
How do I get rid of brown china mark moth (elophila nymphaeata) on yellow marliac water lily?
Caterpillars cut oval leaf flaps and fold them into floating cases; round holes appear in pads. Hand-pick cases; reduce adult moth habitat by clearing dense marginal vegetation near the pond.