What's eating my vriesea hieroglyphica?

Vriesea hieroglyphica (King of the Bromeliads) is a bold indoor bromeliad whose wide banded leaves are targeted by scale insects and mealybugs. Spider mites attack in dry interiors. Fungus gnats breed in the central water cup or wet compost. Its large rosette hides pests well — inspect the underside of the strap leaves and axils monthly.

Brown waxy bumps on the bold banded leaves, often along midribs; honeydew and sooty mold on the leaf surface below Wipe with a cloth dampened in dilute neem oil or isopropyl alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks

Cottony white masses in leaf axils and the central cup rim; leaf base yellowing and honeydew stickiness Remove colonies with alcohol-tipped cotton buds; spray neem oil solution into the rosette; isolate from other plants

Pale dusty stippling across the decorative banded leaf surface; fine webbing on undersides in dry heated rooms Mist the foliage frequently; run a humidifier nearby in winter; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray as needed

Tiny black gnats around the plant; larvae in stagnant cup water or consistently wet potting mix Flush and renew cup water weekly; allow potting medium surface to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps and Bti biological drench