Why Do My Calla Lily Leaves Have Holes? How to Identify and Stop These Pesky Bugs

As a proud calla lily owner, nothing is more heartbreaking than walking outside and noticing ugly holes chewed right through the gorgeous green leaves of your prized plant. But don’t despair! In this article, we’ll explore all the common culprits causing that damage, how to accurately identify them, and most importantly, proven ways to get rid of them for good.

The Culprits: 8 Bugs That Bore Holes in Calla Lily Leaves

If you look closely at the hole patterns and textures left behind, it’s possible to sleuth out exactly which little bugger is the one munching on your lily. Here are the most common hungry creatures you’re likely to find:

1. Caterpillars

Caterpillars are one of the most frequent offenders when it comes to holey calla lily leaves. If you spot neat, rounded holes in orderly rows, there’s likely a caterpillar hatchling from a nearby butterfly or moth feasting on your foliage. These wiggly green worms can devour leaves at an alarming rate!

2. Slugs and Snails

These slimy slugs leave behind ragged, irregular holes between leaf veins as they traverse your plants at night. Their sticky trails crisscrossing your leaves are a telltale sign.

3. Potato Leafhoppers

This tiny green, wedge-shaped bug punctures leaves and sucks out the fluids inside, leaving behind blotchy brown dead spots that eventually turn into holes. They spread rapidly, so act fast!

4. Flea Beetles

These tiny black beetles swarm plants, jumping around like…well…fleas! The numerous small holes they leave behind make leaves look like they’ve been peppered with buckshot.

5. Japanese Beetles

Iridescent green and copper Japanese beetles skeletonize leaves as they devour tissue between veins. They aren’t picky eaters, so your entire garden may be at risk!

6. Earwigs

Heat and drought draw out these creepy looking pincer bugs at night. The jagged holes and notches they chew are typically along the edges of leaves.

7. Aphids

Though tiny, the mess left by clustered groups of these pear-shaped bugs sucks — literally! The yellow spots they leave behind turn to holes eventually.

8. Thrips

Tiny worm-like thrips pierce leaves to suck up juices, leaving behind dried up flecks that fall away to create holes. They spread viruses too, so be vigilant!

Now that you know which bugs are likely nibbling their way through your lilies, let’s talk about how to confirm exactly which one you’re dealing with and stop them in their tracks.

Inspect Your Plants Thoroughly to Correctly ID the Culprit

Closely examining the damage left behind as well as the bugs themselves when present is key to determing what’s munching on your greenery. Here’s what to look for to make a positive ID:

• Neatly spaced rounded holes in orderly rows indicates caterpillars. Look for the green worms still present on the undersides of leaves as confirmation.

• Ragged holes of varying sizes, especially near edges, means slugs and snails are to blame. Look for their slimy trails to verify.

• Blotchy brown spots that turn into holes signals potato leafhoppers. Use a magnifying glass to look for the tiny green wedge-shaped bugs still on the leaves.

• Leaves peppered with tons of tiny holes likely means a swarm of flea beetles has paid a visit. You may see the tiny black beetles still jumping around.

• Lacy holes between leaf veins is the calling card of Japanese beetles. Watch for their metallic green and bronze bodies clinging to leaves.

• Jagged notches around leaf edges indicates earwigs. Carefully search at night with a flashlight to spot these light-shy pests.

• Aphids leave behind yellowing dots that turn to holes when infestations are heavy. Check the undersides of leaves for clusters of these tiny pear-shaped bugs.

• Look for the presence of minuscule worm-like thrips if flecks are drying up and dropping out to leave holes. A magnifying glass helps spot them.

Once you’ve zeroed in on which bug is the culprit, it’s time to take action and stop the infestation in its tracks.

8 Organic Ways to Get Rid of Bugs Eating Holes in Your Calla Lily Leaves

Banishing these uninvited bug guests doesn’t mean you have to douse your garden in harsh pesticides. There are plenty of safer, organic approaches that can get the job done and save your calla lily foliage:

• Hand pick bugs off plants – For large individual pests like caterpillars and slugs, just picking them off by hand and dropping them into soapy water is a simple fix.

• Knock them off with water – For small swarming bugs like aphids and flea beetles, a forceful spray from the hose can dislodge them from leaves.

• Diatomaceous earth – This powder made from crushed fossils cuts up and kills soft-bodied insects like slugs and earwigs.

• Neem oil – Derived from seeds of the neem tree, this organic spray smothers and kills juvenile insects while deterring adults.

• Insecticidal soap – Soap solutions disrupt soft insect exoskeletons and kill on contact without harming plants.

• Beneficial insects – Release ladybugs, lacewings, and other predators to naturally control pests like aphids.

• Row covers – These fabric barriers keep adult insects from reaching plants to lay more eggs.

• Sticky traps – Yellow and blue traps lure insects in and hold them fast so they can’t damage your lilies.

A combination of methods customized to target the specific bug you’ve identified is best. And be sure to take preventative measures like cleaning up debris, rotating plants, and fertilizing to strengthen your calla lilies against future attacks.

With some vigilance and TLC, you can outsmart those leaf-munching pests and keep your calla lily foliage in flawless, hole-free condition where it belongs. No more ugly predator damage – just beautiful blooms to enjoy all season long!