Pest identification
What's eating my begonia 'red robin'?
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy colonies at rhizome joints and leaf bases; honeydew and yellowing leaves.
Control: Remove with alcohol-tipped swabs; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly until resolved.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling dulls the red pigmentation; fine webbing on leaf undersides in low-humidity rooms.
Control: Raise humidity, rinse foliage, and apply insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for three weeks.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae damage fine roots causing sudden wilting; adults hover around moist soil surface.
Control: Allow top 2 inches of soil to dry before watering; use Bti soil drench and yellow sticky traps.
Keep begonia 'red robin' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Begonia 'Red Robin' pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia 'red robin'?
Begonia rex 'Red Robin', an indoor foliage begonia, is most troubled by mealybugs hiding along its rhizome and in leaf axils. Spider mites degrade the vivid red-and-green leaf coloring in dry air. Fungus gnats breed readily if rhizomatous begonias are overwatered. Allow soil to partially dry and inspect regularly.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on begonia 'red robin'?
White waxy colonies at rhizome joints and leaf bases; honeydew and yellowing leaves. Remove with alcohol-tipped swabs; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly until resolved.
How do I get rid of spider mites on begonia 'red robin'?
Pale stippling dulls the red pigmentation; fine webbing on leaf undersides in low-humidity rooms. Raise humidity, rinse foliage, and apply insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for three weeks.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on begonia 'red robin'?
Larvae damage fine roots causing sudden wilting; adults hover around moist soil surface. Allow top 2 inches of soil to dry before watering; use Bti soil drench and yellow sticky traps.