Pest identification
What's eating my streptocarpus 'bethan'?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at leaf bases and in stem joints; sticky residue and sooty mould
Control: Dab with isopropyl alcohol; treat with dilute neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat every 7–10 days
Aphids
Signs: Sticky, distorted young leaves and flower buds; clusters of green or black insects on soft growth
Control: Knock off with a water spray; treat with insecticidal soap or dilute neem oil
Thrips
Signs: Silver streaking and stippling on leaf surfaces; distorted or scarred flowers
Control: Blue sticky traps; remove heavily infested leaves; apply spinosad-based spray in persistent cases
Vine weevil
Signs: Notched leaf margins from adults; wilting due to grubs eating roots at the crown
Control: Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer or early autumn; check roots when repotting
Keep streptocarpus 'bethan' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Streptocarpus 'Bethan' pests — FAQ
What is eating my streptocarpus 'bethan'?
Streptocarpus 'Bethan' is an indoor flowering houseplant susceptible to the common pests of the Gesneriaceae family. Vine weevil grubs attack roots, mealybugs colonise leaf axils, aphids cluster on young growth and flower buds, and thrips scar the foliage. Mealybugs are the most persistent nuisance.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on streptocarpus 'bethan'?
White cottony clusters at leaf bases and in stem joints; sticky residue and sooty mould Dab with isopropyl alcohol; treat with dilute neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat every 7–10 days
How do I get rid of aphids on streptocarpus 'bethan'?
Sticky, distorted young leaves and flower buds; clusters of green or black insects on soft growth Knock off with a water spray; treat with insecticidal soap or dilute neem oil
How do I get rid of thrips on streptocarpus 'bethan'?
Silver streaking and stippling on leaf surfaces; distorted or scarred flowers Blue sticky traps; remove heavily infested leaves; apply spinosad-based spray in persistent cases
How do I get rid of vine weevil on streptocarpus 'bethan'?
Notched leaf margins from adults; wilting due to grubs eating roots at the crown Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer or early autumn; check roots when repotting