How to Identify and Control Dahlia Pests

Dahlias have got to be one of the most stunning types of flowers out there.

Okay, I might say that about most flowers, but dahlias are special. With row upon row of soft, rounded petals sporting rich colors that emerge from bright green foliage, they’re gorgeous.

But the most frustrating thing about them is that pests find them incredibly attractive too.

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You’ll notice many of the topics covered below tackle full categories of insects rather than a specific species, and that’s because a wide variety of them are happy to make a snack out of these bold beauties.

Luckily, we’ve got everything you need to know about what pests might attack your dahlias right here, including how you can deal with them effectively!

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Aster root aphids, black bean aphids, foxglove aphids, green peach aphids, and melon aphids are all species that you’ll find pestering your dahlias. I wasn’t kidding when I said there was a wide variety of pests out there that may come to call…

If you grow plants of any kind, you already know aphids are pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects with two cornicles (like little tailpipes) and a range of colors, depending on the species and food source.

They seem to reproduce before your eyes, and the females are able to give birth to live young without mating first.

They might look slow and defenseless, but if populations grow in number, winged adults are produced to facilitate further spread, and ants will tend and protect them from predators in exchange for the honeydew they produce.

The damage they cause to your dahlias is mostly aesthetic. It may