Pest identification
What's eating my queen sago?
Cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui)
Signs: White powdery crust coating frond undersides and crown; rapid yellowing, frond drop, potential plant death
Control: Thorough horticultural oil spray on all frond surfaces and soil level; repeat every 2 weeks; systemic soil drench with imidacloprid
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at leaf axils and frond bases; sticky honeydew; slowed or distorted growth
Control: Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray; quarantine affected plant
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing and pale stippling on leaflets, especially in heated, dry indoor air
Control: Mist leaves to raise humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly until mites are gone
Keep queen sago pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Queen Sago pests — FAQ
What is eating my queen sago?
Queen Sago, kept as a houseplant, is most seriously threatened by cycad scale — a white armored scale that colonizes fronds and roots aggressively. Mealybugs and spider mites are secondary pests in dry indoor conditions. Scale infestations must be treated promptly and repeatedly with horticultural oil to prevent irreversible damage.
How do I get rid of cycad scale (aulacaspis yasumatsui) on queen sago?
White powdery crust coating frond undersides and crown; rapid yellowing, frond drop, potential plant death Thorough horticultural oil spray on all frond surfaces and soil level; repeat every 2 weeks; systemic soil drench with imidacloprid
How do I get rid of mealybugs on queen sago?
White cottony clusters at leaf axils and frond bases; sticky honeydew; slowed or distorted growth Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray; quarantine affected plant
How do I get rid of spider mites on queen sago?
Fine webbing and pale stippling on leaflets, especially in heated, dry indoor air Mist leaves to raise humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly until mites are gone