What's eating my drosera capensis 'red'?

Drosera capensis 'Red' catches fungus gnats and fruit flies on its sticky tentacles, but aphids — which move carefully between leaves — are its real pest problem. Spider mites can also establish on the undersides of leaves. Chemical sprays damage the mucilage-producing glands; hand removal and water rinsing are the safest controls.

Tiny insects clustered on petioles and the underside of leaves where tentacles are sparse; weakened, deformed new growth Remove with tweezers or dip leaves briefly in dilute soapy water; rinse with distilled water afterward to protect the glands — avoid broad chemical sprays

Silvery stippling on leaf upper surfaces; fine webbing between leaves; worst in low-humidity indoor environments Raise humidity; rinse with distilled water; quarantine; repeat water rinsing every few days — neem oil risks damaging the sticky glands

Larvae in wet sphagnum can damage roots and the crown; adults are caught on leaves but can still breed prolifically in the substrate Reduce standing tray water; apply BTi drench (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to the growing medium; use yellow sticky traps to monitor adults