Pest identification
What's eating my nepenthes ampullaria?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits at leaf axils and around the pitcher rim; pitchers turn brown prematurely; growth slows
Control: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; repeat weekly; quarantine affected plant; improve airflow around the rosette
Scale insects
Signs: Hard waxy bumps on leaves and pitcher exteriors; honeydew and sooty mould deposits
Control: Scrape off manually; treat with alcohol swab; apply imidacloprid to the growing medium as a last resort
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adults hover around the plant; larvae in moist substrate damage fine roots, causing wilting and poor pitcher production
Control: Allow the top of the substrate to dry slightly between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench substrate with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) solution
Keep nepenthes ampullaria pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Nepenthes ampullaria pests — FAQ
What is eating my nepenthes ampullaria?
Nepenthes ampullaria is a lowland species grown indoors, collecting leaf litter in its ground-level pitchers. Mealybugs and scale insects are the principal pests. Fungus gnats can breed in the moist substrate. Avoid pesticides inside the pitchers. Treat pests with isopropyl alcohol swabs and use sticky traps plus Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis for fungus gnats.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on nepenthes ampullaria?
White cottony deposits at leaf axils and around the pitcher rim; pitchers turn brown prematurely; growth slows Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; repeat weekly; quarantine affected plant; improve airflow around the rosette
How do I get rid of scale insects on nepenthes ampullaria?
Hard waxy bumps on leaves and pitcher exteriors; honeydew and sooty mould deposits Scrape off manually; treat with alcohol swab; apply imidacloprid to the growing medium as a last resort
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on nepenthes ampullaria?
Adults hover around the plant; larvae in moist substrate damage fine roots, causing wilting and poor pitcher production Allow the top of the substrate to dry slightly between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench substrate with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) solution