What's eating my dioon mejiae?

Dioon mejiae, a rare Honduran cycad grown as a tropical specimen, is most susceptible to cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) — an invasive armored scale that can devastate fronds rapidly. Mealybugs and thrips also attack new growth. Inspect fronds closely on arrival and treat any infestation immediately with systemic insecticide or horticultural oil.

Dense white armored scale covers undersides of leaflets and stems, causing yellowing, browning, and frond death; colonies can kill plants if untreated Apply systemic insecticide (imidacloprid soil drench) plus contact horticultural oil spray; repeat monthly; remove and destroy heavily infested fronds

White cottony masses at leaflet bases and along the rachis; sticky honeydew and sooty mold Remove manually with alcohol; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly until absent

Silver-streaked or bronzed new leaflets; distorted emerging fronds; tiny dark frass spots Spray with spinosad or neem oil targeting new flush; remove severely damaged leaflets; avoid overhead water that spreads spores