Pest identification
What's eating my anthurium 'black queen'?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling across leaves; webbing on undersides; leaves dull and eventually yellow
Control: Wipe leaves with a damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days for 3 cycles; raise humidity
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or tan shell-like bumps on stems and leaf midribs; leaves yellow; sticky honeydew below
Control: Scrape off with a soft toothbrush dipped in alcohol; spray with horticultural oil; repeat monthly
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits in stem sheaths and at petiole bases; honeydew and sooty mould
Control: Remove with alcohol swab; spray neem oil weekly; systemic drench for heavy infestations
Thrips
Signs: Silver-grey streaking and scarring on the spathe; distorted new leaves; tiny dark frass
Control: Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps; remove and bin heavily scarred spathes
Keep anthurium 'black queen' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Anthurium 'Black Queen' pests — FAQ
What is eating my anthurium 'black queen'?
Anthurium 'Black Queen' is a dramatic indoor flowering anthurium. Spider mites and scale insects are the most consistent pests. Mealybugs settle in leaf sheaths and stem bases. Thrips scar the dark spathe, which is especially visible on this cultivar. Keep leaves clean and humidity moderate to deter all four.
How do I get rid of spider mites on anthurium 'black queen'?
Fine pale stippling across leaves; webbing on undersides; leaves dull and eventually yellow Wipe leaves with a damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days for 3 cycles; raise humidity
How do I get rid of scale insects on anthurium 'black queen'?
Brown or tan shell-like bumps on stems and leaf midribs; leaves yellow; sticky honeydew below Scrape off with a soft toothbrush dipped in alcohol; spray with horticultural oil; repeat monthly
How do I get rid of mealybugs on anthurium 'black queen'?
White cottony deposits in stem sheaths and at petiole bases; honeydew and sooty mould Remove with alcohol swab; spray neem oil weekly; systemic drench for heavy infestations
How do I get rid of thrips on anthurium 'black queen'?
Silver-grey streaking and scarring on the spathe; distorted new leaves; tiny dark frass Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps; remove and bin heavily scarred spathes