What's eating my xanthosoma mafaffa?

Xanthosoma mafaffa (malanga / yautía) is an edible garden crop attacked by taro leaf blight, aphids, and root-knot nematodes outdoors. Caterpillars and grasshoppers chew large holes in the leaves. In wetter climates, slugs target young plants. Nematodes are a serious production threat in tropical kitchen gardens.

Clusters of soft insects on new growth; sticky honeydew; yellowing and curling leaf margins Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs

Irregular to large holes in leaf blades; defoliation in heavy infestations Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bt kurstaki for caterpillars; use row cover on young plants

Galls on corm and roots; stunted, yellowing plants that wilt despite adequate water Rotate crops; amend soil with compost to boost beneficial nematodes; solarise soil before planting

Ragged holes in young leaves at ground level; slime trails on foliage and soil Remove debris and mulch from base; use iron phosphate bait; hand-pick at night