What's eating my aglaonema golden bay?

Aglaonema 'Golden Bay', a yellow-green-leaved indoor cultivar, faces the most threat from spider mites in typical centrally heated homes. Mealybugs are the secondary risk. Its golden foliage makes stippling damage especially noticeable early, which is an advantage — catch outbreaks quickly, treat with neem oil, and the plant recovers well.

Pale to silvery stippling across the golden leaf surface; webbing underneath; leaves drop in severe infestations. Increase humidity, wipe leaves with a damp cloth, and spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every seven days.

White waxy clusters at stem joints and leaf bases; slowed growth and sticky sooty-mould deposits. Apply isopropyl alcohol directly to colonies with a swab; spray the entire plant with neem oil weekly for four weeks.

Root damage from larvae in wet soil; adult gnats hover at soil level and around drainage holes. Allow soil to partially dry between waterings; deploy yellow sticky traps and apply a Bti soil drench for larvae.