What's eating my pinguicula esseriana?

Pinguicula esseriana, a compact Mexican butterwort, traps small insects on its glandular leaves but is itself vulnerable to fungus gnat larvae in the root zone and to root mealybugs lurking beneath the rosette. Its succulent winter leaves are more pest-prone than its carnivorous summer leaves. Good drainage is the best defence.

Larvae devour fine roots and can hollow out the crown, causing sudden collapse — especially during the succulent winter-leaf phase. Use a fast-draining mineral mix (lava rock, pumice, or perlite-heavy); apply Bti (mosquito dunks) if larvae are confirmed in the medium.

White cottony masses at the base of the rosette and among roots; leaves lose colour and new growth stalls. Carefully unpot, rinse roots, remove pests manually, and repot in clean mineral medium. A dilute isopropyl alcohol rinse of roots can help.

Clusters on flower stalks or non-sticky leaf margins; honeydew deposits can encourage mould on the plant. Remove by hand; wipe stems with a damp cloth or apply insecticidal soap carefully to non-glandular surfaces.