From spring to autumn, all kinds of insects live on the leaves and flowers of water lilies. Most of them are completely harmless. But some species are so voracious that they seriously endanger the life of these aquatic plants.
Which pests attack water lilies and how can you combat them?
Water lilies can be attacked by pests such as water lily lice, lily leaf beetles and their larvae, water lily borers or black mud snails. To combat it, we recommend manually removing the pests and affected plant parts as well as using natural products such as horsetail broth.
Water lily lice
Lice love all parts of the water lily plant, but they like the undersides of the floating leaves the most. Their sucking action causes light spots to appear soon. Additionally, the leaves curl. The water lily aphids are dark green to black in color and about 1-2 mm long.
You should fight water lily lice because their honeydew clogs the stomata of the leaves, which in turn promotes fungal diseases. Since any chemical control measure can significantly disrupt the ecological balance in the pond, you should definitely avoid it. Instead we recommend:
- manual stripping of lice
- Cumshot with water jet
- Sprinkling with horsetail broth
Tip
Severely infected leaves should be cut off and disposed of. If necessary, you may have to completely remove diseased specimens from the pond so that the infestation does not spread any further.
Water lily leaf beetle and its larvae
The beetle itself hardly harms the water lilies, while its larvae know no bounds in their voracity. They are the ones who eat the leaves. First the surface of the leaf is scraped, later holes appear. Very rarely, flowers are also affected.
An infestation can be expected from May onwards. The water lily leaf beetles then lay numerous eggs on the tops of the leaves of the water lilies, from which the larvae hatch within a few days. Here are some key details:
- Beetles are grey-brown
- about 6-8 mm long
- Eggs are yellow-brownish
- its diameter is approx. 2 mm
- Larvae are dark brown, yellowish on the underside
Collect discovered beetles and larvae by hand and destroy the clutches. Severely infected leaves should be completely removed and disposed of.
Other pests
There is also a danger from other pests that eat the leaves and stems of water lilies. For example, the 2.5 cm long, initially green and later grayish caterpillars of water lily borers (water butterflies). Sharp mud snails and mosquito larvae can cause damage as early as March.
Prevent and control
Since chemical control of pests can significantly harm other pond inhabitants, the focus should be on preventive measures and early detection. For example, robust native varieties are less sensitive than tropical species. Optimal care also makes water lilies more resilient. Also check your plants regularly for possible pests so that you can stop their spread at an early stage by taking appropriate measures.
