What's eating my saintpaulia 'rob's boolaroo'?

Saintpaulia 'Rob's Boolaroo' is an African violet cultivar grown indoors year-round. African violets are well-known targets for cyclamen mites, mealybugs, and thrips — all indoor pests. Cyclamen mites are the most feared because they cause severe crown distortion; mealybugs and thrips also occur frequently in collections.

New leaves curl tightly, become brittle and pale; flowers deform; the growing crown looks stunted and grey-green. Isolate immediately; discard heavily infested plants; treat with miticide labelled for cyclamen mites (e.g. abamectin); quarantine all new acquisitions.

White cottony deposits in leaf axils and at the base of petioles; honeydew; plant weakens. Spot-treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray with neem oil solution weekly; keep plant isolated.

Silvery streaks and stippling on flower petals and leaves; flowers show brown scarring and premature drop. Remove and bin affected blooms; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap spray weekly; use blue sticky traps to monitor.

Larvae in moist compost damage fine roots; adult flies are a nuisance around the pot. Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; drench with Bti solution to eliminate larvae.