Pest identification
What's eating my ananas bracteatus?
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white wax at leaf bases and crown; plant growth slows and leaves may yellow or redden unusually
Control: Apply isopropyl alcohol to colonies via cotton swab; drench leaf axils with neem oil; repeat every 10 days
Scale insects
Signs: Hard bumps fixed to leaves and stems; sticky residue and sooty mold on lower surfaces
Control: Scrape off manually, then wipe with alcohol; treat with neem oil spray or systemic insecticide for heavy infestations
Spider mites
Signs: Fine silvery stippling on leaves; delicate webbing in dry heated rooms
Control: Increase humidity around the plant, rinse leaves, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly
Keep ananas bracteatus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Ananas bracteatus pests — FAQ
What is eating my ananas bracteatus?
Ananas bracteatus (red pineapple) is a spiny-leafed bromeliad grown as a tropical houseplant or patio specimen. Mealybugs are its primary pest, lodging in the rosette's leaf axils and at the root crown. Scale insects and spider mites occasionally follow. Its tough, armed leaves deter handling, making early inspection at leaf bases especially important.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on ananas bracteatus?
Fluffy white wax at leaf bases and crown; plant growth slows and leaves may yellow or redden unusually Apply isopropyl alcohol to colonies via cotton swab; drench leaf axils with neem oil; repeat every 10 days
How do I get rid of scale insects on ananas bracteatus?
Hard bumps fixed to leaves and stems; sticky residue and sooty mold on lower surfaces Scrape off manually, then wipe with alcohol; treat with neem oil spray or systemic insecticide for heavy infestations
How do I get rid of spider mites on ananas bracteatus?
Fine silvery stippling on leaves; delicate webbing in dry heated rooms Increase humidity around the plant, rinse leaves, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly