Pest identification
What's eating my gonatopus boivinii?
Spider mites
Signs: Stippled, dull foliage and fine webbing on undersides; damage intensifies during warm, dry growing periods.
Control: Increase ambient humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, repeating every 7 days until resolved.
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy deposits at stem joints and on emerging leaves; honeydew encourages sooty mould.
Control: Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on a swab; apply neem oil soil drench to target root mealybugs.
Keep gonatopus boivinii pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Gonatopus boivinii pests — FAQ
What is eating my gonatopus boivinii?
Gonatopus boivinii is a rare East African tropical aroid kept mainly by specialist collectors as an indoor or greenhouse plant. Spider mites and mealybugs are the most likely threats. Its dormant corm phase reduces pest pressure seasonally, but check carefully when new growth resumes — that is when populations establish fastest.
How do I get rid of spider mites on gonatopus boivinii?
Stippled, dull foliage and fine webbing on undersides; damage intensifies during warm, dry growing periods. Increase ambient humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, repeating every 7 days until resolved.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on gonatopus boivinii?
White waxy deposits at stem joints and on emerging leaves; honeydew encourages sooty mould. Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on a swab; apply neem oil soil drench to target root mealybugs.