Insects on a Primrose

Both the flower and plant part of the primrose are subject to insect damage.

Primrose, not to be mistaken for evening primrose, is a flower native to Europe. This flower, commonly known as the English primrose, is subject to attack by various critters ranging from mites to caterpillars. Several methods can help keep your primroses insect-free whether you're growing them indoors or outdoors.

Things You'll Need

• Parasitic wasps
• Tachnid flies
• Beauveria bassiana fungus
• Chemical insecticide containing azadirachtin
• Chemical pesticide containing malathion
• Insecticidal soap spray

Instructions

1. Remove beet armyworms from your primroses by hand. The beet armyworm is actually a caterpillar that eats both the leaves and flowers. They are green or black with yellow stripes. If you see any of these critters on your primroses, simply pick them off the flower and remove them from your garden.

2. Introduce parasitic wasps or tachnid flies to kill off large infestations of beet armyworms.

3. Apply insecticides to get rid of night creatures such as the black vine weevil. The black vine weevil eats primroses and other plant species in the night hours, so hand-removing them would be difficult. Introduce beauveria bassiana, a fungus that kills the weevils, or apply a chemical insecticide containing the active ingredient azadirachtin.

4. Search for yellowing leaves, a sign of whitefly damage. Whiteflies suck the liquid from the primrose and drop honeydew on the primroses, which grows a fungus that destroys the plant. Apply a chemical pesticide that contains malathion to get rid of whiteflies.

5. Search for webbing under the leaves. Webbing is usually an indicator of spider mites, which eat and live on the primroses. Spray insecticidal soap on your primroses to get rid of them.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid natural garden predators by growing your primrose plants indoors. Primroses can grow indoors in a bright area, but not in direct sunlight. Just keep your primroses in a fairly cool environment between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and keep the soil moist.

References

• The Home Depot: Gardening Know-How
• The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual; Barbara Pleasant
• University of Vermont: Primula
• University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources:How to Manage Pests Pests in Gardens and Landscapes
• The University of Arizona Extension: Beet Army Worm
• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Whiteflies in Gardens