sap-sucking pests

What you’re seeing

Fine speckling, curled or distorted new leaves, sticky residue (honeydew), black sooty mold on surfaces, or tiny moving insects on undersides of leaves/stems.

What it is

A broad group of piercing-sucking insects (e.g., aphids, mealybugs, soft/hard scales, whiteflies, thrips). They remove plant sap, weakening growth and stressing new tissue.

Is action needed?

Yes. Early, gentle control prevents population explosions and leaf loss.

How to confirm

Visuals: Cottony tufts (mealybugs), waxy bumps (scale), tiny green/black insects (aphids), minute yellow/black slivers (thrips).
Residue: Sticky honeydew and sooty mold on leaves/floor (aphids, whiteflies, soft scales).
Movement: Tap a leaf over white paper—thrips/whiteflies often drop or fly.

What to do

Quarantine the plant away from others.
Wash: Rinse foliage with lukewarm water; for sturdy leaves, a soapy sponge (a few drops of dish soap in a quart/liter) removes residues and pests. Rinse well. For thrips, use blue sticky traps, gentle leaf rinses, and (where allowed) spinosad.
Contact controls: Use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil per label; ensure full coverage (upper/lower leaves, stems, nodes). Repeat every 7–10 days for 3–4 rounds to catch life stages. Dab visible mealybugs/scale with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; test first.
Prune heavily infested parts. Bag and discard.
Improve conditions: Brighten light and avoid over-fertilizing soft, lush growth that attracts pests.
Monitor nearby plants for several weeks.

Prevention tips

Inspect new plants for cottony clusters or sticky leaves.
Avoid moving infested plants through the collection; treat in place.
Keep foliage dust-free so beneficial rinses and sprays contact pests.

Feeding holes (chewers) vs. stippling/honeydew (piercing-sucking).
Hard water residue can mimic honeydew—sticky feel distinguishes true honeydew.