What's eating my peperomia obtusifolia 'golden gate'?

Peperomia obtusifolia 'Golden Gate' is most threatened by mealybugs, which colonise leaf axils and stem joints. Spider mites and fungus gnats are secondary risks, especially in dry indoor air or overwatered compost. Inspect leaf undersides regularly and isolate new plants before introducing them to your collection.

White cottony clusters in leaf axils and at stem nodes; sticky honeydew residue on leaves Dab individual bugs with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray weekly for 3–4 weeks

Fine stippling on leaves; silvery webbing visible under magnification, most common in low humidity Raise humidity, rinse foliage under lukewarm water, then apply insecticidal soap or dilute neem oil every 5–7 days until clear

Larvae feed on fine roots in wet compost, causing wilting and poor growth in young plants Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to kill larvae