What's eating my emperor sago?

Emperor Sago (Cycas taitungensis), grown as a houseplant, faces the same cycad-specific threat as other Cycas species: cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) is devastating and can kill the plant if left unchecked. Mealybugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats are additional indoor pests. Vigilant horticultural oil treatment is the primary defense.

Dense white encrustation on frond undersides, petioles, and root zone; yellowing leading to whole-plant decline Multiple rounds of horticultural oil spray at 2-week intervals; imidacloprid systemic soil drench; remove heavily infested fronds

Cottony white masses at leaf axils and in the crown; honeydew and subsequent sooty mold Alcohol swab spot treatment; neem oil spray weekly; isolate from other cycads immediately

Tiny pale dots (stippling) across leaflets and fine webbing; worse in low-humidity indoor settings Increase ambient humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days

Larvae chew fine roots in soggy soil, weakening the plant; adult gnats visible at soil surface Allow soil to dry between waterings; yellow sticky traps for adults; Bti soil drench for larvae