What's eating my heliamphora tatei?

Heliamphora tatei is a rare, large sun pitcher from Venezuela's tepuis, cultivated indoors by specialist growers. It demands cool temperatures and very high humidity. Its wet sphagnum medium is prone to fungus gnat infestation. This species is exceptionally slow-growing, meaning any root or rhizome pest damage from fungus gnat larvae can set the plant back by a year or more.

Larvae destroy roots and rhizome tissue in the sphagnum; pitchers collapse and new growth ceases Bti drench every 2 weeks during warm months; maintain cool conditions to slow pest development; yellow sticky traps; top-dress with perlite to deter egg-laying

White fluffy wax in the crown and between pitcher bases; slow silent decline is characteristic Dab colonies with alcohol on a fine brush; full bare-root inspection and repot into clean sphagnum for severe infestations

Pale speckling on pitcher surfaces; webbing visible in low-humidity spells; pitchers deform Keep humidity very high (above 70%); mist surroundings; dilute insecticidal soap spray if mites confirmed