What's eating my philodendron gloriosum 'zebra'?

Philodendron gloriosum 'Zebra' is a slow-growing, ground-creeping collector's species highly sensitive to pest damage — any scarring on its stunning velvety leaves is very visible. Thrips are the greatest threat, often arriving on new rhizome sections. Spider mites also attack the velvety surface in dry air. Quarantine all new material strictly.

Silvery streaks and pitting across the velvety dark leaf surface; distorted new unfurling leaves; small dark frass dots. Isolate immediately; remove and bag infested leaves; apply spinosad or neem oil spray every 5–7 days; use blue sticky traps to monitor thrips adults.

Fine pale stippling on the velvety surface, easiest to see in raking light; webbing between the rhizome and petiole bases. Gently rinse leaves with lukewarm water, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly; keep humidity at 60–70%.

White woolly deposits where petioles meet the rhizome; slow growth and yellowing of affected leaves. Carefully probe rhizome joints with an alcohol-dipped swab; follow up with diluted neem oil spray every 7–10 days.