Pest identification
What's eating my anchomanes difformis?
Spider mites
Signs: Yellow stippling and fine silk webbing on the underside of large leaves; worsens in dry, warm rooms.
Control: Wipe leaves with a damp cloth weekly; apply neem oil spray, focusing on leaf undersides.
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy residue in stem axils and along the spiny petioles; sticky honeydew drips onto lower foliage.
Control: Dab with alcohol swab; spray entire plant with insecticidal soap; repeat after 10 days.
Caterpillars
Signs: Irregular holes or large sections missing from leaves when grown outdoors in warm climates.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage as a biological control.
Keep anchomanes difformis pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Anchomanes difformis pests — FAQ
What is eating my anchomanes difformis?
Anchomanes difformis is a large West African tropical aroid grown under glass or indoors in temperate regions. Spider mites and mealybugs are the typical houseplant pests to watch for. Outdoors in warm climates, caterpillars may chew the impressive foliage. Inspect the prickly stems and leaf undersides carefully — pests hide in the spines.
How do I get rid of spider mites on anchomanes difformis?
Yellow stippling and fine silk webbing on the underside of large leaves; worsens in dry, warm rooms. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth weekly; apply neem oil spray, focusing on leaf undersides.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on anchomanes difformis?
White fluffy residue in stem axils and along the spiny petioles; sticky honeydew drips onto lower foliage. Dab with alcohol swab; spray entire plant with insecticidal soap; repeat after 10 days.
How do I get rid of caterpillars on anchomanes difformis?
Irregular holes or large sections missing from leaves when grown outdoors in warm climates. Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage as a biological control.