What Eats the Iris Bulbs?

Bulb pests cause irises to become stunted and turns leaves yellow.

Iris bulbs are subject to a few serious pest concerns, which may lead to stunted growth or unhealthy flowers and stems. Iris gardeners must understand the symptoms of bulb pests, to learn how to properly care for these flowers.

Common Pests

Three main pests attack the bulbs of iris flowers, including the iris borer, the iris bulb aphid and the lesser bulb fly.

Identification

The proper way to care for pest-infected iris bulbs begins with correctly identifying the insect at fault. Pink caterpillars with brown heads are the larvae stage of the iris borer. Aphids are small, soft insects ranging in color from clear to brown to green. The lesser bulb fly maggot is wrinkled and fat, ranging in color from brown to yellow to gray.

Damage

All these pests destroy bulbs and cause plants to develop stunted growth and yellow foliage. Irises with bulb pests are more likely to develop fatal fungal or viral infections.

Control

Once the pest has been properly identified, iris gardeners can determine the best way to control bulb pests. Being by purchasing healthy, pest-free bulbs from the nursery. Remove and destroy any infected plant material to avoid infecting healthy plants. Bulb borer caterpillars may be individually destroyed, though it is often best to just get rid of the infected bulbs, according to Clemson University.

References

• Clemson University Extension: Flowering Bulb Insect Pests
• University of California Davis: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Iris