Pest identification
What's eating my bear paw?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony tufts in leaf axils or at the stem base; fuzzy leaves make them easy to overlook until infestations are heavy.
Control: Use a cotton swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on each colony. Do not spray water-based solutions heavily — the felt traps moisture.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale, stippled leaf surfaces; faint webbing under leaves; most common in dry heated indoor conditions.
Control: Wipe individual leaves gently with a barely damp cloth; apply dilute neem oil. Improve humidity and airflow around the plant.
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown discs on stems and leaf undersides; yellow patches where they feed; honeydew may attract sooty mould.
Control: Pick off manually with a soft toothbrush; follow with an alcohol wipe on stems. Repeat every two weeks.
Keep bear paw pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Bear Paw pests — FAQ
What is eating my bear paw?
Bear Paw's soft, fuzzy leaves trap moisture and debris that shelters mealybugs and spider mites. Mealybugs colonise the leaf axils and stem base. Spider mites thrive on stressed plants in dry, heated rooms. Avoid getting the felted leaves wet — trapped water invites rot as well as pests. Check the base and stem joints at every watering.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on bear paw?
White cottony tufts in leaf axils or at the stem base; fuzzy leaves make them easy to overlook until infestations are heavy. Use a cotton swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on each colony. Do not spray water-based solutions heavily — the felt traps moisture.
How do I get rid of spider mites on bear paw?
Pale, stippled leaf surfaces; faint webbing under leaves; most common in dry heated indoor conditions. Wipe individual leaves gently with a barely damp cloth; apply dilute neem oil. Improve humidity and airflow around the plant.
How do I get rid of scale insects on bear paw?
Hard brown discs on stems and leaf undersides; yellow patches where they feed; honeydew may attract sooty mould. Pick off manually with a soft toothbrush; follow with an alcohol wipe on stems. Repeat every two weeks.