What's eating my zantedeschia 'hot chocolate'?

Zantedeschia 'Hot Chocolate', a rich brown-spathes calla lily grown in borders or containers, is most prone to aphid attack on its fleshy stems and foliage. Slugs damage emerging growth. Thrips leave silvery scarring on spathes. In pots, vine weevil grubs can destroy the rhizome. Inspect regularly as populations build fast in warm weather.

Colonies on stems, leaf undersides, and developing spathes; sticky honeydew leading to sooty mould; stunted growth Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use a firm water blast to dislodge colonies; apply a systemic insecticide only when infestations are heavy

Distinctive silver streaking and rasping scars on spathes and leaves; flowers may appear bleached or distorted Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap; remove worst-affected spathes; hang blue sticky traps nearby to catch adults

Ragged holes in emerging foliage and low spathes; slime trails visible on soil surface Scatter iron phosphate slug bait around plants; hand-pick after dark; use a gritty mulch or copper tape around containers

Larvae eat into rhizomes causing sudden wilt and plant death, most common in containers Apply beneficial nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer; check rhizomes annually when lifting for winter storage