What's eating my agave parryi?

Agave parryi, a cold-hardy rosette species, is susceptible to mealybugs when grown indoors and to the agave snout weevil outdoors in warm climates. Its tough, waxy leaves repel most insects. In garden settings, gopher damage to the fleshy root base is occasionally reported. The pest list is naturally short for this rugged plant.

White woolly residue in leaf axils and around the stem base; weakening leaves; honeydew Remove with alcohol-dipped cotton swabs; apply neem oil solution weekly for three to four cycles; isolate affected plants

Plant suddenly flops or collapses; the centre smells rotten and contains cream-coloured larvae Remove and destroy infested plants immediately; treat soil around healthy specimens with an imidacloprid drench before weevil season in warm regions

Unexplained wilting in well-watered plants; white powdery deposits visible when plant is unpotted Remove all soil, rinse roots, apply a systemic insecticide drench, repot in fresh sterile gritty mix