What's eating my alocasia stingray?

Alocasia Stingray is most threatened by spider mites, which thrive in the dry indoor air this plant prefers. Mealybugs hide in leaf axils, scale clusters on stems, and aphids may colonise new growth. Inspect the undersides of its distinctive tail-like leaves regularly and act fast — Alocasias drop leaves quickly under pest stress.

Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves yellow and drop Increase humidity, shower foliage, then spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly for 3 weeks

White cottony fluff in leaf axils and along petioles; sticky honeydew residue Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab, then follow up with neem oil spray; repeat weekly

Brown or tan waxy bumps on stems; weakened, yellowing growth Scrape off manually, then apply neem oil or horticultural oil; severely infested stems should be pruned

Clusters of soft insects on new growth; curled or distorted unfurling leaves Blast off with water, then spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days