What's eating my begonia chlorosticta?

Begonia chlorosticta, a rare Bornean collector species grown indoors, is vulnerable to mealybugs hiding in its stem nodes, spider mites in low humidity, and fungus gnats in the moist well-draining mix it needs. Because this plant is slow-growing and difficult to replace, catch infestations early with regular inspection.

White cottony masses at nodes and under spotted leaves; honeydew and sooty mold; plant weakens slowly. Manually remove with isopropyl alcohol; spray with neem oil; quarantine away from other plants immediately.

Pale speckling on the distinctive spotted foliage; fine webbing on undersides under dry conditions. Keep humidity above 60%; mist or use a pebble tray; treat with diluted neem oil spray.

Larvae graze roots in moist organic mix; adults emerge from soil; root damage stalls growth. Use a well-draining, perlite-rich mix; water from below; apply Bti drench to eliminate larvae.