Yes snake plant has bugs. But what to do when your snake plant has bugs? If the conditions are appropriate and you allow them to establish themselves, a variety of bugs will assault your Snake Plant. The majority of them prefer to drink sap from the plant’s insides. This, however, will not result in the rapid death of your Snake Plant.
It will weaken the plant over time, preventing it from reaching its full potential.
The good news is that this plant is one of the most hardy indoor plants, and both prevention and treatment are simple.
Mealybugs, thrips, aphids, and fungus gnats are some of the most frequent snake plant bugs. Whitefly and other flying insects may also be found. High humidity, inadequate ventilation, and incorrect watering all contribute to a bug-friendly atmosphere. To get rid of snake plant bugs, you must first identify them and then treat them appropriately.
If the Snake Plant is produced in ideal conditions, sap sucking bugs are not a problem. The leathery leaves have a thick waxy coating that acts as a formidable barrier against bugs.
This article will teach you how to keep your plant in top shape and how to deal with any bugs that do manage to establish themselves.
Snake Plant Has bugs; Common Snake Plant bugs
Here are the common bugs that attack your snake plant.
Mealybugs (pseudococcidae)
Symptoms
Like small white fluff pieces, these little insects resemble insect eggs. In the joint between leaves, they thrive and can sneak into the leaf and slurp the juices deep within it from your plant.
Treatment
Only if they succeed in establishing themselves are these insects a nuisance. Using the many natural remedies listed below, you can easily remove them if they are found in small numbers. Infestations can be prevented by close observation.
Spider Mites (tetranychidae)
Symptoms
It is difficult to see these tiny creatures with the naked eye since they are so small.
Typically, the first sign of their presence is the fine webs they create at the base of the leaves.
The plant will become weak after heavy infestations, and the tiny wounds they leave will leave it susceptible to disease.
Treatment
If you catch their presence early enough, you can often get rid of them with a good spray of water, as they thrive in dry conditions. Maintaining high humidity levels will prevent them from returning.
Scale Insects
Symptoms
Despite looking so unlike what is commonly thought of as an insect, these bugs often go unnoticed because they do not resemble what we deem to be insects.
A handful of brown lumps resemble scabs rather than bugs. Beneath their brown outer skin, they are quietly sucking the goodness from your plant.
Treatment
If you identify them, they can either be wiped away with a soft cloth using an insecticidal solution listed below, or they can be scraped with a fingernail.
White Fly
Symptoms
Tiny white insects that resemble little moths rather than flies. They are most evident when you move or water the plant, which causes them to be disturbed.
A little cloud of flying insects will tell you that you have an issue at this point. They also exude a dark sticky material that can attract other bugs or cause mold.
Treatment
To deal with these pests, simply take your plant outside and squirt it with a sharp splash of water. To get rid of any eggs or larva, thoroughly wash the leaves.
When you bring your plant back indoors, hang a sticky trap in the proximity of it to avoid additional infestation.
Aphids
Symptoms
The majority of plants seem to be susceptible to these pesky little creatures. Breeding is very fast, but they can easily be spotted.
Your plant will exhibit them or sticky dew that they produce if you examine it carefully.
They normally thrive on the new tips of the plant because they are softer and easier to suck from.
Treatment
It is more likely that they survive because of their ability to breed quickly than because of any defense mechanism.
These guys are easy to control as long as you examine your plants frequently and recognize an attack early.
You will soon feel in control with the help of one of the biochemical products below.
Caterpillars
Symptoms
In contrast to most other pests we have discussed, caterpillars eat the leaves rather than simply sucking their sap.
When they do this, they leave very obvious telltale signs in the form of holes chewed from the edges of the leaves.
If you see this signature of their presence, closely examine your plant and you will find the heavily disguised culprits.
Treatment
It is best to pick off and destroy these caterpillars by hand.
After you have done this, check the leaves carefully for any eggs that have not yet hatched.
Insecticidal soap or neem oil can be used to remove eggs and prevent further infestations.