What's eating my dragon fruit cactus?

Dragon Fruit Cactus (Selenicereus undatus) is primarily grown as an edible crop outdoors in warm climates. Key pests are mealybugs, scale insects, and aphids on stems and flowers. Thrips damage blooms, reducing fruit set. In the field, birds and fruit bats raid ripe fruits. Good sanitation and netting protect yield.

White waxy masses on stems, joints, and flower buds; reduced vigor and sticky honeydew Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; use systemic insecticide on heavy commercial crops; remove affected tissue

Soft-bodied clusters on new growth and flower buds; distorted tissue and honeydew leading to sooty mold Knock off with water jets; use insecticidal soap or neem spray; encourage natural predators like lacewings and ladybirds

Silvery scarring on flower petals and young fruit skin; reduced pollination and cosmetically damaged fruit Use blue or yellow sticky traps; apply spinosad-based spray; remove and bag affected flowers promptly

Pecked, hollowed, or entirely removed ripe fruits on outdoor crops Cover maturing fruits with netting bags or deploy bird-scare tape; harvest fruits promptly when ripe