What's eating my alocasia bambino?

Alocasia x amazonica 'Bambino' is a compact cultivar highly susceptible to spider mites — the dense, dark velvety leaves trap dry air on their undersides. Mealybugs cluster at the corm base. Fungus gnats colonise moist soil. 'Bambino' drops leaves readily under pest stress, so early intervention is especially important for this dwarf form.

Pale speckling across the dark leaf surface dulling the white venation pattern; webbing on undersides; rapid leaf drop in heavy infestations Increase humidity (use a pebble tray or humidifier); shower the foliage; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days

White cottony fluff at corm base and petiole insertion points, sometimes just below soil; leaves yellow and the plant declines Unpot and inspect the corm; dab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol; drench soil with diluted neem oil; repot if heavily infested

Larvae damage the shallow root system; adults swarm the surface; plant looks droopy despite moist soil Allow soil surface to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; apply BTi (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench to soil