Pest identification
What's eating my bread tree cycad?
Cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui)
Signs: White powdery coating on frond undersides, stems, and caudex; fronds yellow and die; can kill the plant
Control: Thorough horticultural oil spray covering all surfaces; repeat every 2 weeks; imidacloprid systemic drench for persistent infestations
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at the base of leaflets and in the crown; honeydew and sooty mold buildup
Control: Isopropyl alcohol spot treatment; neem oil spray weekly; quarantine from other cycad specimens
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and webbing on leaflets in dry, heated indoor environments
Control: Increase humidity around the plant; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days
Keep bread tree cycad pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Bread Tree Cycad pests — FAQ
What is eating my bread tree cycad?
Bread Tree Cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii), typically grown as a collector houseplant or conservatory specimen, is most threatened by cycad scale, a devastating armored scale. Mealybugs infest the crown and scale colonies weaken fronds over time. Spider mites are a secondary concern. Prompt, repeated horticultural oil treatment is the primary control method.
How do I get rid of cycad scale (aulacaspis yasumatsui) on bread tree cycad?
White powdery coating on frond undersides, stems, and caudex; fronds yellow and die; can kill the plant Thorough horticultural oil spray covering all surfaces; repeat every 2 weeks; imidacloprid systemic drench for persistent infestations
How do I get rid of mealybugs on bread tree cycad?
White cottony clusters at the base of leaflets and in the crown; honeydew and sooty mold buildup Isopropyl alcohol spot treatment; neem oil spray weekly; quarantine from other cycad specimens
How do I get rid of spider mites on bread tree cycad?
Pale stippling and webbing on leaflets in dry, heated indoor environments Increase humidity around the plant; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days