What's eating my begonia 'benitochiba'?

Begonia rex-cultorum 'Benitochiba' is a Rex begonia with large, textured leaves, making it highly attractive to thrips which rasp the decorative surface. Mealybugs hide in petiole bases, and spider mites colonise the leaf undersides in dry air. Thrips do the most visible cosmetic damage to the prized foliage of Rex types.

Silvery-bronze streaking and scarring across the colourful leaf surface; distorted new leaves; tiny black frass dots Remove affected leaves; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap spray; introduce Amblyseius cucumeris; use blue sticky traps to monitor thrips adults

Cottony white clusters at petiole bases and along leaf veins; stunted growth and yellowing Spot-treat with alcohol swabs; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to entire plant; isolate and repeat treatment weekly

Stippled discolouration on the ornamental leaf surface; webbing on undersides; leaf edges brown and curl Increase humidity; apply neem oil spray focusing on leaf undersides; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites in established infestations