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Areca palm · Dypsis lutescens

How do I get rid of pests on my Areca palm?

Pests like spider mites and scale love the fronds of an Areca palm. Check the undersides of the leaves and the stems for any signs of webbing or bumps.

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pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Look closely at the undersides of the leaves.
  2. Check for fine webbing between the leaflets.
  3. Inspect the stems for small bumps or cottony white spots.

Likely causes

  1. Spider mites

    Most likely

    How to tell: You see fine, dusty webbing between the leaflets and tiny yellow stippling on the leaves.

    What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth and spray the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Repeat this every 7 days until the mites are gone.

  2. Scale insects

    Possible

    How to tell: Small, brown, immobile bumps appear on the stems and leaf veins.

    What to do: Scrape the scale off gently with a fingernail or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Treat the whole plant with neem oil to catch any hidden crawlers.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your areca palm

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Pests can multiply quickly and weaken the plant significantly. Treat them as soon as you spot them to avoid a full infestation.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the leaves clean by wiping them down occasionally and ensure the plant is not stressed by dry air or poor light.

Areca palm: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your areca palm and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Why do I keep getting spider mites?
Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions. Increasing the humidity around your plant makes it much less attractive to them.
Are these pests harmful to my pets?
The pests themselves are not toxic, but the treatments like neem oil should be kept away from pets until dry. Always check the labels on your pest products.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Areca palm

Back to the Areca palm guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.