Capsid bugs
PEST
When it's active · UK
JFMAMJJASOND
When it's active · Northern Italy
JFMAMJJASOND
When it's active · Central Italy
JFMAMJJASOND
When it's active · Southern Italy and islands
JFMAMJJASOND
How to recognise it
Small, ragged holes and distorted, puckered growth on leaves and shoot tips, sometimes with brown-edged tears as the leaf expands around early feeding damage.
Life cycle and conditions
Active from late spring through summer, feeding on soft new growth and flower buds.
Prevention
Keep plants growing steadily with regular feeding and watering — vigorous growth better tolerates minor damage.
How to treat it
🌿 ORGANIC · RECOMMENDED
Remove and dispose of badly affected shoot tips; a plant-derived pyrethrum spray, applied in the evening when pollinators aren't active, can help on heavy infestations while keeping wider impact to a minimum.
🧪 CHEMICAL · IF YOU CHOOSE
A synthetic insecticide isn't usually necessary or recommended for this pest — the bio option above, combined with keeping plants healthy and vigorous, is normally enough.