What's eating my zamia loddigesii?

Zamia loddigesii, a small Mexican cycad grown as a tropical or indoor specimen, is most threatened by cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui). Mealybugs attack the crown and leaf bases, while spider mites may infest leaflets in dry indoor conditions. Inspect regularly and treat scale infestations swiftly with horticultural oil and a systemic insecticide.

Dense white encrustations under leaflets and on stems; yellowing fronds and dieback if untreated Drench soil with imidacloprid; spray horticultural or neem oil on all frond surfaces; remove infested fronds; follow up monthly

White cottony masses at the crown and leaf axils; leaf yellowing, stunted leaflet emergence Remove manually with rubbing alcohol; apply neem oil spray over the whole plant; isolate from other cycads until resolved

Pale stippling on leaflets; fine webbing on undersides in dry, warm conditions Raise humidity; rinse foliage; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 2–3 rounds