What's eating my caladium florida cardinal?

Caladium 'Florida Cardinal' is primarily attacked by aphids and caterpillars outdoors, and spider mites or mealybugs when grown as a houseplant. Its large, brilliantly colored paper-thin leaves are highly attractive to chewing insects. Inspect new growth after rain, and treat early — damaged leaves cannot recover their vivid red patterns.

Clusters of soft insects on new growth and leaf undersides; curled, distorted leaves; sticky honeydew and sooty mold Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; introduce ladybirds as natural predators

Fine pale stippling across the vivid leaf surface; thin webbing on undersides; leaves lose color vibrancy Raise humidity around the plant, rinse foliage thoroughly, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days

White waxy fluff at petiole bases and soil surface around tubers; honeydew and leaf yellowing Treat with alcohol swabs on contact sites; drench soil if root mealybugs suspected; apply neem oil to foliage

Ragged holes and chewed leaf margins on outdoor plants; leaves may be rolled and bound with silk threads Hand-pick caterpillars at dusk; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage as a biological control