What's eating my lithops salicola?

Lithops salicola is rarely troubled by pests indoors, but mealybugs and fungus gnats are the main threats. Mealybugs hide in the crevice between the two leaves; fungus gnats colonise overwatered, organic-rich compost. Root mealybugs are the most damaging and hardest to spot. Keep compost mineral-lean and nearly dry to deter both.

White cottony wax in the leaf crevice or at the soil line; leaves may shrivel despite adequate light Dab visible bugs with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; drench root zone with dilute neem or systemic imidacloprid for root mealybugs

Larvae chew fine roots in wet, peat-rich compost; adults are a nuisance but harmless Switch to a fast-draining mineral mix (80% grit/perlite); apply Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) drench or sticky yellow traps for adults

Hidden white waxy colonies on roots cause sudden wilting and failure to plump up after watering Unpot, wash roots clean, inspect carefully, drench with systemic insecticide or neem solution, repot into fresh mineral compost