What's eating my argyroderma pearsonii?

Argyroderma pearsonii is a slow-growing indoor mesemb vulnerable mainly to mealybugs tucked in the crevice between its paired lobes and root mealybugs attacking below the soil. Overwatering attracts fungus gnats. Maintaining a near-desert watering regime and inspecting the groove between the leaf bodies at each watering keeps this species problem-free.

Cottony white wax lodged in the body fissure; sticky secretions and gradual weakening of the plant Manually treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with a neem oil or insecticidal soap application around the base

Unexplained shrivelling despite watering; white powdery material on root system when unpotted Remove from pot, rinse and treat roots with imidacloprid solution or diluted rubbing alcohol, then repot in fresh mineral compost

Larvae in persistently moist compost damage fine roots; adults hover near the soil surface Strict dry-down between waterings; coarse grit top-dressing; yellow sticky traps to capture and monitor adult gnats