Pest identification
What's eating my blunt-leaf zamia?
Scale insects
Signs: Armored or soft scale on fronds and the fleshy caudex; chlorotic fronds and sticky honeydew
Control: Horticultural oil spray; scrape off manually; systemic drench for caudex-infesting populations
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy colonies at leaf bases and in crown; stunted new growth and sooty mold
Control: Neem oil or insecticidal soap; isopropyl alcohol spot treatment; isolate affected plants
Weevil larvae (cycad weevils)
Signs: Tunneling in the caudex causes rotting, sudden frond wilting and structural collapse
Control: Drench soil with systemic insecticide; inspect caudex for entry holes; remove and destroy heavily damaged tissue
Keep blunt-leaf zamia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Blunt-leaf Zamia pests — FAQ
What is eating my blunt-leaf zamia?
Blunt-leaf Zamia (Zamia amblyphyllidia) is a Caribbean cycad grown mainly by collectors in tropical and subtropical gardens or heated greenhouses. Scale insects are the primary pest, followed by mealybugs and root-feeding weevil larvae that can attack the starchy caudex. Spider mites become problematic if humidity drops below comfortable levels.
How do I get rid of scale insects on blunt-leaf zamia?
Armored or soft scale on fronds and the fleshy caudex; chlorotic fronds and sticky honeydew Horticultural oil spray; scrape off manually; systemic drench for caudex-infesting populations
How do I get rid of mealybugs on blunt-leaf zamia?
White fluffy colonies at leaf bases and in crown; stunted new growth and sooty mold Neem oil or insecticidal soap; isopropyl alcohol spot treatment; isolate affected plants
How do I get rid of weevil larvae (cycad weevils) on blunt-leaf zamia?
Tunneling in the caudex causes rotting, sudden frond wilting and structural collapse Drench soil with systemic insecticide; inspect caudex for entry holes; remove and destroy heavily damaged tissue