Pest identification
What's eating my pandacaqui?
Mealybugs
Signs: White powdery wax at stem joints and leaf bases; honeydew drops on lower leaves
Control: Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly until clear
Spider mites
Signs: Yellow-brown stippling on leaves; fine webs on leaf undersides in dry or heated environments
Control: Rinse leaves with water; apply miticide or neem oil; maintain humidity above 50%
Leaf-eating beetles
Signs: Round or irregular holes punched through leaves; adult beetles visible on foliage at dusk
Control: Hand-pick beetles; apply pyrethrin or neem oil spray; use row covers on small plants
Keep pandacaqui pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pandacaqui pests — FAQ
What is eating my pandacaqui?
Pandacaqui (Tabernaemontana pandacaqui) is a tropical shrub found in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. As with other Tabernaemontana, mealybugs and spider mites are the most frequent pests in cultivation. Scale insects can establish on woody growth. Outdoors in tropical gardens, caterpillars and leaf-eating beetles may also cause chewing damage to foliage.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on pandacaqui?
White powdery wax at stem joints and leaf bases; honeydew drops on lower leaves Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly until clear
How do I get rid of spider mites on pandacaqui?
Yellow-brown stippling on leaves; fine webs on leaf undersides in dry or heated environments Rinse leaves with water; apply miticide or neem oil; maintain humidity above 50%
How do I get rid of leaf-eating beetles on pandacaqui?
Round or irregular holes punched through leaves; adult beetles visible on foliage at dusk Hand-pick beetles; apply pyrethrin or neem oil spray; use row covers on small plants