Solomon’s Seal is generally a tough-as-nails plant when it comes to diseases, but it does have a bit of a “fan club” in the pest world. The most common uninvited guest you’ll run into is the sawfly. If you’re wondering how to spot them and, more importantly, how to get them out of your garden, I’ve got you covered.
Symptoms of a Sawfly Infestation
The tricky thing about sawflies is that you usually don’t notice them until they’ve already started their feast. The adult sawflies don’t actually hurt the leaves themselves; they just use your Solomon’s Seal as a nursery, laying their eggs right on the foliage so the larvae have a snack ready the moment they hatch.
Keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs:
- Tiny eggs tucked away on the leaves.
- Small “nibble” marks or holes as the larvae start eating.
- In the worst-case scenario, “skeletonized” leaves where only the veins are left behind.
The Sawfly Life Cycle
In the spring, the females lay their eggs on the leaves. By around May, the larvae hatch and get to work. You can recognize these little guys by their round black heads and black legs. Their bodies usually look like they’ve been dusted with a white, powdery wax. While the larvae look like caterpillars, the adults are actually pretty plain-looking black insects that look a lot like common flies.
How to Fight Back
The best defense is a good offense! Make it a habit to check your Solomon’s Seal regularly. Be sure to peek at the undersides of the leaves, as that’s the favorite hiding spot for eggs. If you spot any eggs or larvae, you can just pick them off by hand. If a leaf is totally covered, go ahead and snip it off. Just a pro-tip: don’t toss those infested leaves in your compost pile, or you might just be spreading the problem around for next year. You really only need to reach for chemical sprays if the infestation has completely spiraled out of control.
Why Consistency Matters
Sawflies are creatures of habit. Once they find a spot they like, they tend to come back to the same plant year after year. That’s why it’s so important to be thorough when you’re cleaning them off. If you stop them now, you’re saving yourself a lot of headache next spring!
Other Pests to Watch For
While sawflies are the main event, slugs and snails are also big fans of Solomon’s Seal. This is especially true for the Dwarf Solomon’s Seal varieties—those little guys are like candy to slugs and can be devoured almost overnight if you aren’t careful. Keep those slug traps handy!