What's eating my star window plant?

Star Window Plant (Haworthia retusa) is generally resistant to pests but can attract mealybugs tucked into its tight leaf rosette. Scale insects occasionally appear on stems. Fungus gnats breed in wet soil. Its translucent leaf tips are its most delicate feature — check there first for signs of insect damage or rot.

White waxy fluff between leaves and at the base of the rosette; sticky film on nearby surfaces. Remove with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab; follow up with neem oil spray weekly for 3 weeks; quarantine affected plants.

Small tan or brown shell-like bumps on stems or leaf undersides; yellowing or stunted growth. Scrape off scales with a soft toothbrush; treat with horticultural oil or 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton pad; repeat every 2 weeks.

Larvae damage fine roots; adults hover around soil surface and nearby windows. Let soil dry fully between waterings; top-dress with coarse grit; use yellow sticky traps to monitor and reduce adult populations.