What's eating my begonia 'cowardly lion'?

Begonia × 'Cowardly Lion' is a cane-type or hybrid houseplant begonia. Cane begonias are susceptible to mealybugs along stem nodes, spider mites on leaf undersides, and scale insects on mature stems. Mealybugs are the most consistent problem, taking advantage of the woody node structure to establish colonies.

White fluffy deposits at stem nodes and leaf axils; yellowing leaves; sticky honeydew below Wipe nodes with an alcohol-soaked cotton bud; spray with insecticidal soap every seven days; quarantine from nearby plants until clear

Pale stippling across leaves; fine webbing on undersides; leaves lose gloss and drop in severe cases Mist foliage to raise humidity; apply neem oil spray; repeat every three to five days; ensure adequate airflow around the plant

Brown waxy bumps along stems; honeydew leads to sooty black mould; stems look dirty and encrusted Scrape off scale with a soft toothbrush dipped in soapy water; apply horticultural oil; repeat at two-week intervals to catch crawler stage