What's eating my buchholtz's billbergia?

Buchholtz's Billbergia is a tropical indoor bromeliad susceptible to mealybugs and scale insects, which exploit the sheltered spaces within its rosette. Spider mites may appear in low humidity. The tubular vase form makes thorough inspection essential — check inside the cup and at leaf bases every few weeks.

Powdery white wax and cottony egg sacs in the leaf axils and inside the cup; yellowing foliage Remove with alcohol-dampened swabs; apply neem oil soil drench for root mealybugs

Brown hard bumps adhered to leaf surfaces; sooty mould develops on honeydew secretions Dislodge manually, wipe with isopropyl alcohol, then apply horticultural oil on remaining colonies

Tiny pale spots and fine webbing on leaf undersides, especially in low-humidity rooms Increase humidity, mist leaves, and spray with dilute insecticidal soap weekly until clear