What's eating my black velvet anthurium?

Anthurium papillilaminum, the Black Velvet Anthurium, is especially vulnerable to spider mites, which create stark pale stippling against its deep black-green velvety leaves. Mealybugs hide in cataphyll sheaths. Thrips can permanently scar this highly sought collector plant. Humidity above 65% is essential both for plant health and mite prevention.

Pale silvery stippling starkly visible on the dark velvety leaf; webbing underneath; leaves lose their black lustre Keep humidity above 65% consistently; rinse foliage; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 7 days for 4 weeks minimum

White waxy fluff inside cataphyll sheaths and at stem nodes; honeydew encouraging sooty mold growth Peel back sheaths; swab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray entire plant with insecticidal soap; repeat weekly; quarantine immediately

Silvery feeding scars on the dark velvet leaf surface — especially disfiguring on this species; distorted new growth Apply spinosad-based insecticide or insecticidal soap every 5 days; blue sticky traps for adults; remove and bag heavily damaged leaves