What's eating my conophytum (living pebbles)?

Conophytum (Living Pebbles) are most troubled by mealybugs sheltering in the gaps between paired leaves and by root mealybugs in their fine root system. Fungus gnats thrive if the medium stays moist. Keep soil dry during summer dormancy and inspect the leaf junctions carefully.

White waxy fluff between the fused leaf pairs; leaf surfaces may dimple and discolour. Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a fine cotton swab into each crevice. Repeat every 7–10 days for at least a month.

Plants shrivel without obvious above-soil cause; chalky white coating on roots and inner pot walls. Unpot, inspect roots, soak in dilute systemic insecticide or neem drench, repot into sterile grit mix.

Larvae chew fine roots, causing collapse in small plants; adults hover around the soil surface. Allow soil to dry completely between waterings; apply a Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (BTi) drench; use yellow sticky traps for adults.