Did you know that aubergine leaves are the Japanese Potato Beetle's favorite food? Japanese Potato Beetles will feed on the leaves of any plant in the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant) but they'll always hit the eggplant first. Some gardeners plant a few aubergines as a "trap crop", even if they don't like to eat 'em. Just check the plants every day and if they're being chewed on you can pick the 'taterbugs off and squash 'em before they start eatin' anything else.