Pest identification
What's eating my standley's zamia?
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy or armored bumps on stems and frond bases; sap loss leads to yellowing and stunted growth.
Control: Scrape off manually with a soft brush; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray and repeat every 10 days for a month.
Mealybugs
Signs: White powdery clusters at stem crevices and beneath leaflets; honeydew promotes mold growth.
Control: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow with insecticidal soap spray on a weekly schedule until clear.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and subtle webbing on leaflets, especially in hot, dry indoor conditions.
Control: Increase humidity, rinse fronds, and apply neem oil or a registered miticide every 5–7 days until mites are eliminated.
Keep standley's zamia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Standley's Zamia pests — FAQ
What is eating my standley's zamia?
Standley's Zamia (Zamia standleyi), a Central American tropical cycad, is primarily threatened by scale insects in indoor and greenhouse settings. Mealybugs can also colonize stem bases. Because this is a rare species, any infestation should be treated promptly to protect the plant's long-term health and the collector's investment.
How do I get rid of scale insects on standley's zamia?
Waxy or armored bumps on stems and frond bases; sap loss leads to yellowing and stunted growth. Scrape off manually with a soft brush; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray and repeat every 10 days for a month.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on standley's zamia?
White powdery clusters at stem crevices and beneath leaflets; honeydew promotes mold growth. Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow with insecticidal soap spray on a weekly schedule until clear.
How do I get rid of spider mites on standley's zamia?
Pale stippling and subtle webbing on leaflets, especially in hot, dry indoor conditions. Increase humidity, rinse fronds, and apply neem oil or a registered miticide every 5–7 days until mites are eliminated.