Pest identification
What's eating my lace aloe?
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown or tan bumps along leaf ribs and edges; leaves yellow and may ooze sticky honeydew.
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush; wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton. Repeat every 2 weeks until clear.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at the base of leaves or in the axils; weakened, shriveling foliage.
Control: Dab each colony with alcohol on a cotton swab. For heavy infestations use a dilute neem oil spray across the whole plant.
Aloe mites (Eriophyes aloinis)
Signs: Gnarled, proliferating growths on growing tips — called 'aloe cancer'; new leaves are distorted and thickened.
Control: There is no cure — remove and destroy all affected tissue or the whole plant to prevent spread to other aloes.
Keep lace aloe pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lace Aloe pests — FAQ
What is eating my lace aloe?
Lace Aloe is a compact, clumping aloe mainly bothered indoors by scale insects along its ridged leaves and mealybugs at leaf bases. Aloe mites, though rare, can disfigure growing tips. Outdoors in mild climates slugs may rasp leaves. Keep in bright conditions — stressed plants in low light are far more vulnerable to all pests.
How do I get rid of scale insects on lace aloe?
Hard brown or tan bumps along leaf ribs and edges; leaves yellow and may ooze sticky honeydew. Scrape off with a soft brush; wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton. Repeat every 2 weeks until clear.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on lace aloe?
White cottony clusters at the base of leaves or in the axils; weakened, shriveling foliage. Dab each colony with alcohol on a cotton swab. For heavy infestations use a dilute neem oil spray across the whole plant.
How do I get rid of aloe mites (eriophyes aloinis) on lace aloe?
Gnarled, proliferating growths on growing tips — called 'aloe cancer'; new leaves are distorted and thickened. There is no cure — remove and destroy all affected tissue or the whole plant to prevent spread to other aloes.