What's eating my smooth cayenne pineapple?

Pineapple mealybug is the primary pest of all Ananas comosus cultivars including Smooth Cayenne, feeding on sap and vectoring pineapple wilt disease, which turns leaf tips red and collapses the plant. Root-knot nematodes and spider mites also cause significant damage. Act quickly at the first sign of leaf-tip reddening.

Feeds in leaf axils and root zone; transmits pineapple wilt virus, causing red-tipped wilting leaves and plant collapse. Control ant colonies that protect mealybugs; apply insecticidal soap or systemic insecticide; use certified clean planting material.

Galled, stunted roots lead to poor water uptake, yellowing, and dramatically reduced fruit size. Fumigate soil before planting; use nematode-resistant covers crops in rotation; plant certified nematode-free slips.

Speckled, bronzed foliage on leaf surfaces in hot, dry conditions; severe infestations reduce vigour. Increase irrigation to raise humidity; apply miticide or neem oil spray, targeting the undersides of leaves.