Pest identification
What's eating my beetle peperomia?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters in leaf axils and stem joints; leaves yellow and growth slows
Control: Dab colonies with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray every 7 days until clear
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing on undersides of leaves; stippled, pale, or silvery leaf surfaces
Control: Raise humidity, wipe leaves with a damp cloth, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; repeat weekly for 3 weeks
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae chew fine roots; adults swarm soil surface; seedlings or cuttings may wilt
Control: Let the top 2 inches of soil dry out between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) for larvae
Keep beetle peperomia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Beetle Peperomia pests — FAQ
What is eating my beetle peperomia?
Beetle Peperomia is an indoor plant threatened mainly by common houseplant sap-suckers. Mealybugs are the top threat, hiding in leaf axils. Spider mites may appear in dry air. Fungus gnats attack if the soil stays too wet. Healthy plants in well-draining mix resist most pests well.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on beetle peperomia?
White cottony clusters in leaf axils and stem joints; leaves yellow and growth slows Dab colonies with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray every 7 days until clear
How do I get rid of spider mites on beetle peperomia?
Fine webbing on undersides of leaves; stippled, pale, or silvery leaf surfaces Raise humidity, wipe leaves with a damp cloth, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; repeat weekly for 3 weeks
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on beetle peperomia?
Larvae chew fine roots; adults swarm soil surface; seedlings or cuttings may wilt Let the top 2 inches of soil dry out between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) for larvae