What's eating my begonia 'martin's mystery'?

Begonia 'Martin's Mystery', a rhizomatous indoor begonia, is most commonly attacked by mealybugs sheltering along its thick rhizomes, and by spider mites when indoor air is dry. Thrips can silver and distort new growth. Keeping humidity moderate and checking rhizomes at every watering session catches infestations early.

White waxy fluff along rhizomes and leaf bases; sticky honeydew leads to sooty mold. Treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 7 days until clear.

Pale stippling across leaf surfaces with fine webbing on undersides in low-humidity conditions. Increase ambient humidity, wipe leaves, and spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil weekly.

Silvery streaks or bronzing on new leaves; distorted unfurling foliage. Remove heavily affected leaves, apply spinosad-based spray or insecticidal soap, and use blue sticky traps to monitor adults.