What's eating my amorphophallus campanulatus?

Amorphophallus campanulatus (taro-like edible corm) faces aphids and armyworm caterpillars on its single large leaf, while the corm in the ground is vulnerable to wireworms and root-knot nematodes. Slugs damage emerging shoots. In South and Southeast Asian growing regions, leaf-feeding beetles are also reported. Caterpillars are the most damaging foliage pest.

Skeletonised or completely consumed leaflets; frass and egg masses visible on leaf surfaces. Apply Bt spray in the evening; hand-pick caterpillars; pheromone traps can reduce adult moth populations.

Dense colonies on young petioles; honeydew and sooty mould coating leaf surfaces. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil spray at 5–7 day intervals; encourage natural predators.

Galls on corm and roots; reduced corm size and plant vigour; leaves yellowing despite normal watering. Rotate with non-host crops; incorporate neem cake into soil; apply Purpureocillium lilacinum biocontrol in affected beds.

Tissue removed from emerging shoots and the base of petioles at soil level. Iron phosphate pellets around the planting site; hand-pick at night; avoid excessive mulch that shelters slugs.