What's eating my alocasia brisbanensis?

Alocasia brisbanensis (cunjevoi) is a large-leaved Australian native grown outdoors in subtropical and tropical climates as well as indoors. Outdoors it faces aphids, caterpillars, and slugs; indoors, spider mites and mealybugs dominate. The giant leaves are irresistible to chewing insects in the garden, so inspect regularly after warm rain.

Yellowing, stippled patches on indoor plants in dry conditions; fine webs on undersides Improve humidity, rinse foliage, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 7 days until clear.

White waxy clusters at leaf joints and petiole bases; sticky honeydew and sooty mold follow Dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol, then treat the whole plant with neem oil spray weekly.

Ragged holes in the large leaf blades; visible frass on outdoor plants Pick larvae off by hand at dusk, or apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to the foliage.

Irregular holes with slime trails on young leaves and emerging shoots at ground level Remove by hand after dark, use copper tape around containers, or apply iron phosphate pellets around outdoor plantings.