Pest identification
What's eating my rangoon creeper?
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on new shoots and flower buds; leaves curl and turn sticky with honeydew; sooty mold follows.
Control: Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays. Encourage natural predators — ladybirds and lacewing larvae provide effective biological control.
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy shield-like bumps on stems and older leaves; plant weakens gradually; honeydew promotes mold.
Control: Scrape off manually; apply horticultural oil to cover crawlers. Repeat every 2 weeks through the growing season.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves bronze and drop during hot, dry weather.
Control: Increase moisture and air movement; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days until the infestation clears.
Keep rangoon creeper pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Rangoon Creeper pests — FAQ
What is eating my rangoon creeper?
Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica) is a vigorous tropical climber that can be targeted by aphids, scale insects, caterpillars, and spider mites in warm climates. Aphids are especially drawn to tender new growth and flower buds. The plant's fast growth generally allows it to recover well from moderate pest pressure with timely treatment.
How do I get rid of aphids on rangoon creeper?
Soft colonies on new shoots and flower buds; leaves curl and turn sticky with honeydew; sooty mold follows. Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays. Encourage natural predators — ladybirds and lacewing larvae provide effective biological control.
How do I get rid of scale insects on rangoon creeper?
Waxy shield-like bumps on stems and older leaves; plant weakens gradually; honeydew promotes mold. Scrape off manually; apply horticultural oil to cover crawlers. Repeat every 2 weeks through the growing season.
How do I get rid of spider mites on rangoon creeper?
Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves bronze and drop during hot, dry weather. Increase moisture and air movement; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days until the infestation clears.