What's eating my pineapple?

Pineapple plants face both insect pests and animal damage. Mealybugs and pineapple mites are the chief insect threats, causing stunting and fruit damage. Outdoor plants attract birds pecking ripening fruit and nematodes damaging roots. In garden beds, slugs may feed on young plants. Wilt disease, spread by mealybugs, is the most serious risk.

Yellowing, stunted growth; vector for pineapple wilt disease which collapses entire plants Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil at the base; use reflective mulch to deter; remove and destroy heavily infected plants

Swollen galls on roots; poor growth, wilting, and reduced fruit set Improve drainage; incorporate organic matter; use resistant cultivars where available; solarize soil before planting

Pecking wounds on ripening fruit, leading to rot and secondary infection Cover developing fruit with paper bags or fleece; use bird-scare devices or netting over outdoor plants

Irregular holes in young leaves and crowns at soil level, most active at night Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around the base; remove debris; use copper tape barriers in containers