Pest identification
What's eating my queen's tears?
Scale insects
Signs: Tan or brown waxy bumps along leaf undersides and margins; stunted growth and sooty mold
Control: Scrape off with a cotton swab and alcohol; spray with horticultural oil, ensuring coverage between the narrow leaves
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy tufts in the central tank and leaf axils; yellowing foliage and sticky honeydew
Control: Flush the cup; remove with alcohol-dipped swab; apply neem oil spray into axils and repeat every 7–10 days
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adult gnats hover around the plant; larvae damage fine roots in excessively moist compost
Control: Let compost surface dry before watering; treat with Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) or predatory nematodes (Steinernema feltiae)
Keep queen's tears pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Queen's Tears pests — FAQ
What is eating my queen's tears?
Queen's Tears (Billbergia nutans) is generally robust but susceptible to scale insects tucked between its narrow leaves, mealybugs in the central cup and leaf bases, and fungus gnats in waterlogged compost. The central water reservoir can breed mosquito larvae — flush with fresh water weekly and avoid letting it go stagnant.
How do I get rid of scale insects on queen's tears?
Tan or brown waxy bumps along leaf undersides and margins; stunted growth and sooty mold Scrape off with a cotton swab and alcohol; spray with horticultural oil, ensuring coverage between the narrow leaves
How do I get rid of mealybugs on queen's tears?
White waxy tufts in the central tank and leaf axils; yellowing foliage and sticky honeydew Flush the cup; remove with alcohol-dipped swab; apply neem oil spray into axils and repeat every 7–10 days
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on queen's tears?
Adult gnats hover around the plant; larvae damage fine roots in excessively moist compost Let compost surface dry before watering; treat with Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) or predatory nematodes (Steinernema feltiae)