⚠ Moderate🩺
Pests
Fiddle Leaf Fig Mealybugs — White Cottony Colonies at Stem Nodes
Commonly affects: Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig)
White cottony or waxy masses appear at stem nodes, in leaf axils, and along the midrib on the underside of leaves. Leaves become sticky with honeydew. Ficus lyrata is particularly susceptible to mealybug colonisation at the growing tip — infestations here distort new leaf emergence and can permanently damage the apical growing point if untreated. Mealybugs are protected by their waxy coating and reproduce rapidly in warm indoor conditions.
Potential Causes
- 1Introduction from infested nursery plants during quarantine
- 2Transfer from nearby plants via crawlers walking between pots in contact
Solution Steps
- 1Dab each mealybug cluster with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- 2Spray the entire plant with neem oil solution weekly for 6 cycles.
- 3Apply a systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) as a soil drench for persistent infestations.
- 4Isolate the plant throughout treatment.
- 5Inspect the growing tip most carefully — mealybugs at this location cause the most severe damage.
Prevention Tip
Quarantine all new Ficus plants for 3-4 weeks before placing in your collection. Inspect every stem node under good lighting during the quarantine period.
