What's eating my zantedeschia 'black star'?

Zantedeschia 'Black Star', with its deep burgundy-black spathes, is grown as a garden or container flowering plant. Aphids target new growth and flower stems. Slugs attack the base of plants in damp conditions. Thrips blemish the distinctive dark spathes. Spider mites can be an issue when grown indoors or under glass.

Dense colonies on stems and flower stalks; stunted new growth, honeydew, and sooty mould. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; use a strong water jet to dislodge colonies; introduce biological controls.

Irregular holes in leaves and damage to emerging shoots at soil level, especially after rain. Scatter iron phosphate pellets; apply Phasmarhabditis nematodes in moist soil; remove debris where slugs shelter.

Silver or pale flecking on the dark spathe surface, making discolouration very obvious on this cultivar. Prune out damaged spathes; spray spinosad or insecticidal soap; manage weeds around the planting area.