What's eating my conophytum pageae?

Conophytum pageae is a pea-sized button mesemb seldom eaten by anything except mealybugs, which hide under the dry papery sheath between growing seasons. Root mealybugs can lurk undetected for months. Fungus gnats breed only if the compost stays wet. Keeping it bone-dry during summer dormancy is the single best preventative.

Cottony wax found under the papery sheath or at soil level; shrunken, papery-looking bodies out of season Peel away old sheaths to inspect; treat with isopropyl alcohol swabs; systemic drench for root mealybugs

Plants do not re-hydrate after autumn watering resumes; white waxy powder visible on roots when unpotted Unpot during repotting (every 3–4 years); rinse and inspect roots; soak in dilute systemic insecticide before repotting in fresh grit mix

Root rot and fine-root loss when the summer-dormant plant is watered too frequently Observe strict summer drought; use mineral mix; apply Bti if adults appear