What's eating my painted lady?

Philodendron 'Painted Lady' is a variegated hybrid houseplant whose bright yellow-green patterned leaves attract thrips and mealybugs. Thrips cause the most visible and lasting damage by scarring the variegated foliage. Spider mites can also appear in low-humidity winter conditions. Inspect every new leaf as it unfurls, since early stages are hardest to detect.

Silver streaking and distortion on new variegated leaves; black faecal specks on leaf surfaces; unfurling leaves emerge scarred Isolate immediately; spray with spinosad every five days for four cycles; use blue sticky traps to monitor adult populations; remove heavily scarred leaves

White cottony deposits at leaf nodes and petiole bases; yellowing and loss of leaf vigour Swab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow with a neem oil spray; repeat weekly; do not compost infested material

Fine pale stippling on leaf surfaces; delicate webbing on undersides in dry indoor winter air Mist foliage regularly; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap spray to undersides every five to seven days