Pest identification
What's eating my variegated lady palm?
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Pale yellow flecking across leaflets with fine webbing at frond tips; leaves become papery if untreated.
Control: Mist daily or place on a humidity tray. Wipe fronds with damp cloth, then treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Repeat weekly for three rounds.
Scale insects (Coccidae / Diaspididae)
Signs: Hard or soft bumps on stems and frond midribs; yellowish or stunted new growth.
Control: Scrape off with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. Apply horticultural oil spray over the entire plant, including stem bases, and repeat in 10–14 days.
Mealybugs (Planococcus citri)
Signs: Cottony white masses at frond bases and crown; honeydew leading to black sooty mold.
Control: Dab individual colonies with alcohol. Follow with insecticidal soap spray. Isolate the plant and check neighbouring houseplants for spread.
Keep variegated lady palm pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Variegated Lady Palm pests — FAQ
What is eating my variegated lady palm?
Variegated Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa 'Variegata') is a slow-growing houseplant most vulnerable to spider mites and scale. The variegated foliage can mask early stippling damage, so inspect the undersides of leaflets regularly. Low humidity is the primary driver of mite outbreaks on this cultivar.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on variegated lady palm?
Pale yellow flecking across leaflets with fine webbing at frond tips; leaves become papery if untreated. Mist daily or place on a humidity tray. Wipe fronds with damp cloth, then treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Repeat weekly for three rounds.
How do I get rid of scale insects (coccidae / diaspididae) on variegated lady palm?
Hard or soft bumps on stems and frond midribs; yellowish or stunted new growth. Scrape off with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. Apply horticultural oil spray over the entire plant, including stem bases, and repeat in 10–14 days.
How do I get rid of mealybugs (planococcus citri) on variegated lady palm?
Cottony white masses at frond bases and crown; honeydew leading to black sooty mold. Dab individual colonies with alcohol. Follow with insecticidal soap spray. Isolate the plant and check neighbouring houseplants for spread.