Pest identification
What's eating my long-leaf parlor palm?
Spider mites
Signs: Yellow-white stippling on frond surfaces; webbing beneath leaves; tips brown and die in severe cases
Control: Increase ambient humidity; regularly wipe frond undersides; spray with neem oil or pyrethrin-based miticide every 5–7 days until resolved
Scale insects
Signs: Brown waxy bumps on stems and midribs; sticky honeydew; sooty black mould may develop
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush dipped in diluted isopropyl alcohol; follow up with horticultural oil spray every 2 weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white deposits at frond bases and stem joints; yellowing and premature frond drop
Control: Remove with alcohol-dampened swabs; treat with repeated neem oil or insecticidal soap spray at 7–10 day intervals
Keep long-leaf parlor palm pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Long-leaf Parlor Palm pests — FAQ
What is eating my long-leaf parlor palm?
Long-Leaf Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea oblongata) is a shade-tolerant indoor palm susceptible to the same core pests as the wider Chamaedorea genus. Spider mites cause the most damage in warm, dry rooms. Scale insects cling to canes. Mealybugs shelter at frond bases. Keeping humidity above 50% is the most effective preventive measure.
How do I get rid of spider mites on long-leaf parlor palm?
Yellow-white stippling on frond surfaces; webbing beneath leaves; tips brown and die in severe cases Increase ambient humidity; regularly wipe frond undersides; spray with neem oil or pyrethrin-based miticide every 5–7 days until resolved
How do I get rid of scale insects on long-leaf parlor palm?
Brown waxy bumps on stems and midribs; sticky honeydew; sooty black mould may develop Scrape off with a soft brush dipped in diluted isopropyl alcohol; follow up with horticultural oil spray every 2 weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on long-leaf parlor palm?
Cottony white deposits at frond bases and stem joints; yellowing and premature frond drop Remove with alcohol-dampened swabs; treat with repeated neem oil or insecticidal soap spray at 7–10 day intervals