What's eating my anthurium clarinervium (velvet cardboard anthurium)?

Anthurium clarinervium's large velvety leaves attract spider mites and thrips, both of which scar the striking white-veined surface. Mealybugs hide at the stem base and root zone. Scale and fungus gnats (from the moisture-retentive chunky aroid mix it requires) round out the main threats. Inspect the leaf undersides weekly.

Tiny pale specks and fine webbing on the velvet undersides; the dramatic white venation looks dull or brown-streaked. Mist foliage and raise humidity above 60%; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for three or more rounds.

Silver-gray streaks or bronzing across the leaf surface (feeding scars); black fecal dots visible; new leaves emerge distorted. Remove and destroy heavily affected leaves; apply insecticidal soap or spinosad-based spray to all leaf surfaces and soil; use blue sticky traps to monitor adults.

White cottony fluff at leaf joints, petiole bases, and soil level; root mealybugs possible in heavy infestations. Swab visible bugs with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray with neem oil; if root mealybugs are suspected, unpot and rinse roots before repotting in fresh mix.