Pest identification
What's eating my restrepo's chigua?
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy or armored bumps on fronds and stems; yellowing foliage, honeydew and sooty mold
Control: Horticultural oil spray to all surfaces; manual removal with an alcohol-dipped swab; repeat every 2–3 weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white deposits in leaf axils and on new growth; stunted emerging fronds
Control: Neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; isolate from other cycads immediately; isopropyl spot treatment
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing and bronze stippling on leaflets; leaflets dry out and drop in low-humidity conditions
Control: Increase humidity; wash foliage with water; apply neem oil or miticide spray; improve air circulation
Keep restrepo's chigua pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Restrepo's Chigua pests — FAQ
What is eating my restrepo's chigua?
Restrepo's Chigua (Chigua restrepoi) is a critically endangered Colombian cycad rarely found outside specialist collections. In cultivation, scale insects and mealybugs are the primary threats. Thrips may damage emerging fronds. Being grown in humid tropical or greenhouse conditions, spider mites can also establish if air circulation is poor and humidity drops.
How do I get rid of scale insects on restrepo's chigua?
Waxy or armored bumps on fronds and stems; yellowing foliage, honeydew and sooty mold Horticultural oil spray to all surfaces; manual removal with an alcohol-dipped swab; repeat every 2–3 weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on restrepo's chigua?
Cottony white deposits in leaf axils and on new growth; stunted emerging fronds Neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; isolate from other cycads immediately; isopropyl spot treatment
How do I get rid of spider mites on restrepo's chigua?
Fine webbing and bronze stippling on leaflets; leaflets dry out and drop in low-humidity conditions Increase humidity; wash foliage with water; apply neem oil or miticide spray; improve air circulation