Identifying mealybugs on Monstera
White, cottony masses tucked into Monstera's leaf axils where the leaf stem meets the main stem, and along the ridges of the fenestrated leaves — these sheltered spots are easy to miss during a quick glance.
Life cycle
Females lay 300–600 eggs in cottony masses. Spread by crawlers and on contaminated tools.
Damage to Monstera
Mealybugs sap-suck at the base of Monstera's leaf stems and stem joints, weakening new growth and leaving sticky honeydew that can attract sooty mould on the large leaf surfaces. Heavy infestations stunt new fenestrated growth.
How to treat mealybugs on Monstera
Dab visible mealybugs with a cotton bud soaked in rubbing alcohol, checking leaf axils and the underside of leaves carefully. Follow up with insecticidal soap or neem oil across the whole plant, repeating every 7–10 days until they're gone.
Preventing mealybugs on Monstera
Inspect leaf axils and stem joints regularly, especially on new leaves as they unfurl, and quarantine any new plants before placing them near your Monstera.