Pest identification
What's eating my normanbya cycad?
Cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui)
Signs: Dense white armored scale on leaflet undersides and the crown trunk; yellowing fronds, eventual plant death
Control: Apply horticultural oil thoroughly; introduce Coccobius fulvus parasitic wasps; inspect roots too as scale spreads below soil
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy masses between frond bases in the crown; frond yellowing and honeydew deposits attracting ants
Control: Remove manually; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; consider systemic imidacloprid drench for severe crown infestations
Caterpillars (various Lepidoptera)
Signs: New flush leaflets eaten or skeletonized as they unfurl, leaving tattered emerging fronds
Control: Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) onto new croziers before leaflets harden; hand-pick visible larvae; monitor each growth flush
Keep normanbya cycad pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Normanbya Cycad pests — FAQ
What is eating my normanbya cycad?
Normanbya Cycad (Cycas normanbyana), native to Queensland rainforests, is vulnerable to cycad scale — a devastating armored scale that can kill plants. Mealybugs colonize the crown between fronds. In outdoor Queensland settings, caterpillars feed on new flush growth. Its rainforest origins mean it prefers humidity; stressed dry specimens attract spider mites in cultivation.
How do I get rid of cycad scale (aulacaspis yasumatsui) on normanbya cycad?
Dense white armored scale on leaflet undersides and the crown trunk; yellowing fronds, eventual plant death Apply horticultural oil thoroughly; introduce Coccobius fulvus parasitic wasps; inspect roots too as scale spreads below soil
How do I get rid of mealybugs on normanbya cycad?
White fluffy masses between frond bases in the crown; frond yellowing and honeydew deposits attracting ants Remove manually; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; consider systemic imidacloprid drench for severe crown infestations
How do I get rid of caterpillars (various lepidoptera) on normanbya cycad?
New flush leaflets eaten or skeletonized as they unfurl, leaving tattered emerging fronds Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) onto new croziers before leaflets harden; hand-pick visible larvae; monitor each growth flush