What's eating my caralluma hesperidum?

Caralluma hesperidum is a North African succulent stapeliad grown as a specialist houseplant. Mealybugs are by far the most common threat, exploiting the plant's angled stem grooves to hide. Root mealybugs and fungus gnats also occur in poorly draining soil. Prevent issues with fast-draining mix and sparing irrigation.

White fluffy deposits nestled in stem angles and at the base; sticky residue; tip growth stunted or distorted. Dab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap solution thoroughly every 7–10 days for at least three cycles. Isolate from other succulents.

Plant wilts unexpectedly; white powdery coating on roots exposed when unpotted. Remove all soil, rinse roots, and drench with a neem or imidacloprid solution. Let roots air-dry, then repot in sterile, gritty cactus mix.

Clouds of small gnats near soil; larvae damage fine feeder roots, leading to slow decline. Reduce watering sharply and allow the substrate to dry between waterings. Apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to the soil, or use yellow sticky traps for adults.