Pest identification
What's eating my toothed fly bush?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies cluster on stem tips and non-resinous stem bases, causing curling leaves and sticky honeydew.
Control: Spot-treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol using a cotton swab. Remove heavily infested shoot tips by pruning. Do not spray systemic insecticides.
Scale insects
Signs: Hard shell-like bumps on mature woody stems drain sap and cause branch yellowing and die-back.
Control: Manually remove with a toothpick or soft brush. A targeted alcohol dab kills individuals without affecting the broader plant ecosystem.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae feed on roots in the growing medium, particularly problematic during establishment in a pot.
Control: Use yellow sticky traps and coarse sand top-dressing. Water from below to keep the substrate surface dry.
Keep toothed fly bush pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Toothed Fly Bush pests — FAQ
What is eating my toothed fly bush?
Roridula dentata, the toothed fly bush, has even more potent resin glands than R. gorgonias but shares the same weakness: aphids exploit woody stem bases below the sticky zone, and scale insects cling to older branches. Fungus gnats are a concern in cultivation. Preserve the plant's symbiotic assassin bug community — avoid systemic pesticides entirely.
How do I get rid of aphids on toothed fly bush?
Colonies cluster on stem tips and non-resinous stem bases, causing curling leaves and sticky honeydew. Spot-treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol using a cotton swab. Remove heavily infested shoot tips by pruning. Do not spray systemic insecticides.
How do I get rid of scale insects on toothed fly bush?
Hard shell-like bumps on mature woody stems drain sap and cause branch yellowing and die-back. Manually remove with a toothpick or soft brush. A targeted alcohol dab kills individuals without affecting the broader plant ecosystem.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on toothed fly bush?
Larvae feed on roots in the growing medium, particularly problematic during establishment in a pot. Use yellow sticky traps and coarse sand top-dressing. Water from below to keep the substrate surface dry.