Pest identification
What's eating my moore's macrozamia?
Cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui)
Signs: Dense white armored scale colonies coating leaflets, stems and roots; rapid decline and bleached fronds
Control: Apply horticultural oil thoroughly to all plant surfaces including roots; repeat monthly; remove heavily infested fronds
Cycad blue butterfly caterpillars
Signs: Ragged, chewed emerging fronds; entire new flush can be destroyed before it hardens
Control: Spray new growth with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) at flush emergence; hand-pick if numbers are low
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony masses at leaf bases and on stems; honeydew and sooty mold
Control: Treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; use systemic insecticide (imidacloprid soil drench) for severe infestations
Keep moore's macrozamia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Moore's Macrozamia pests — FAQ
What is eating my moore's macrozamia?
Moore's Macrozamia is most threatened outdoors by cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) and by cycad blue butterfly caterpillars that devour emerging fronds. Indoors, soft scale and mealybugs are the primary pests. Animals such as possums and wallabies may browse foliage in garden plantings in eastern Australia.
How do I get rid of cycad aulacaspis scale (aulacaspis yasumatsui) on moore's macrozamia?
Dense white armored scale colonies coating leaflets, stems and roots; rapid decline and bleached fronds Apply horticultural oil thoroughly to all plant surfaces including roots; repeat monthly; remove heavily infested fronds
How do I get rid of cycad blue butterfly caterpillars on moore's macrozamia?
Ragged, chewed emerging fronds; entire new flush can be destroyed before it hardens Spray new growth with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) at flush emergence; hand-pick if numbers are low
How do I get rid of mealybugs on moore's macrozamia?
White cottony masses at leaf bases and on stems; honeydew and sooty mold Treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; use systemic insecticide (imidacloprid soil drench) for severe infestations