What's eating my haworthia bayeri?

Haworthia bayeri, valued for its dark windowed rosettes, faces its greatest pest threat from mealybugs and root mealybugs that exploit its compact form and relatively slow growth. Spider mites are a secondary risk. Because H. bayeri grows slowly, any pest damage is slow to recover; inspect the soil line and rosette centre monthly and treat without delay.

Gradual unexplained wilting, stunting, and leaf dullness; white waxy clusters on the roots and around the base when unpotted Remove plant from pot, wash away all soil, soak roots in insecticidal soap solution, allow to dry fully, then repot in clean gritty mix

Cottony white wax in the rosette centre or at leaf bases; yellowing inner leaves and a sticky residue on leaf surfaces Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray with insecticidal soap; isolate and repeat weekly for 3–4 weeks

Faint webbing across the rosette and loss of the glossy sheen on windowed leaf tips; leaves may become pale or silvery-stippled Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, covering all leaf surfaces; repeat every 5–7 days; avoid placing the plant near heating vents