What's eating my maranta arundinacea?

Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), grown outdoors or in edible gardens, is relatively pest-resistant but can be attacked by caterpillars and aphids on the foliage, while slugs and snails damage young shoots. In warm climates, root-knot nematodes are the most serious threat, damaging tubers and reducing yield significantly.

Swollen galls on roots and rhizomes; stunted, yellowing plants; reduced tuber yield; wilting despite adequate moisture Rotate planting beds, incorporate organic matter, use resistant cover crops (marigold intercropping), and solarize soil in summer before planting

Soft, clustered insects on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew; curled young leaves; possible virus transmission Spray with a strong jet of water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds and lacewings as natural predators

Ragged holes in young leaves and stems; silvery slime trails on and around the plant; seedlings can be killed Remove by hand at night, use copper tape barriers or iron phosphate slug pellets around plants; keep soil surface dry where possible

Large irregular holes chewed from leaf margins or across leaf blades; frass (droppings) visible on leaves Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage for persistent infestations