What's eating my shaggy shield fern?

Shaggy Shield Fern (Dryopteris cycadina) indoors is most commonly troubled by scale insects that shelter under the distinctive dark, bristly scales on its fronds. Mealybugs and spider mites are secondary threats. The textured frond surface makes pests easy to overlook — inspect carefully at every watering.

Waxy bumps on stipes and frond midribs, camouflaged by the plant's own dark scales; fronds yellow and weaken. Examine stipes closely, scrape scales off with a soft brush, and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7–10 days.

Cottony white clusters at frond bases and under hairy scales; sticky honeydew and sooty mould follow. Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; apply neem oil spray weekly for three to four weeks.

Fine pale stippling and webbing on frond surfaces in low-humidity conditions; fronds desiccate at tips. Mist regularly or use a humidifier; spray with insecticidal soap on a 5-day schedule until mites clear.