What's eating my nepenthes truncata?

Nepenthes truncata is an indoor tropical carnivore, so its threats come from common houseplant pests rather than garden animals. Mealybugs are the most frequent problem, forming cottony masses on stems and leaf joints. Spider mites, scale insects, and aphids can also attack, particularly when humidity drops below ideal levels.

White cottony tufts on stems, leaf joints, and pitcher bases; leaves yellow and pitchers fail to develop. Dab individual colonies with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol; follow up with dilute neem oil spray. Repeat weekly for a month.

Fine webbing between leaves; pale stippling or bronze speckling on leaf surfaces, worst in low humidity. Raise humidity above 60%, mist foliage, and apply a dilute insecticidal soap spray. Avoid harsh miticides that can damage pitcher tissue.

Small, flat, brown or tan bumps on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew leads to sooty mold. Scrape off with a soft toothbrush, then treat with neem oil. Inspect new plants before placing near your collection.

Soft green or black clusters on new growth; distorted and stunted leaves and pitcher lids. Rinse off with lukewarm water or remove manually; apply insecticidal soap sparingly as Nepenthes are sensitive to soap residues.