What's eating my tropical pitcher plant?

The tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes alata) is kept indoors and faces mealybugs as its most serious pest, often hiding deep in pitchers or at the crown. Scale, aphids, and thrips also occur. Avoid standard insecticides which can harm Nepenthes — use manual removal and isopropyl alcohol swabs, keeping chemicals away from the pitcher fluid.

White cottony deposits at the crown, leaf axils, or inside pitcher peristomes; pitchers fail to develop or collapse prematurely Remove manually with tweezers; dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; repeat every 5-7 days; avoid getting alcohol inside pitchers

Flat or domed waxy bumps on leaves and pitcher surfaces; honeydew and sooty mould; leaf yellowing Scrape off with a toothpick; wipe with an alcohol swab; avoid oil-based sprays which can block leaf pores and harm pitchers

Clusters on new growth and pitcher tendrils; stunted, curled new leaves; sticky honeydew deposits Rinse with water; remove by hand or with a soft brush; pyrethrin spray applied to foliage (not inside pitchers) if infestation is heavy

Silvery scratched marks on leaves and pitcher surfaces; tiny black faecal spots; deformed new pitchers Isolate plant; apply pyrethrin spray to foliage (not inside pitchers); repeat 3-4 days later; yellow sticky traps to monitor