Plumeria Plant Pests

The yellow and white flowers of a plumeria shrub

Also known as lei flower, plumeria (Plumeria spp.) is a flowering shrub or small tree that hails from the American tropics. Like any plant in the garden, plumeria is subject to a range of pests that must be dealt with swiftly before serious damage occurs.

Types

Common plumeria pests include sucking insects such as mealy bugs, scale and spider mites. White flies may also become a problem. Pests feed on foliage, sucking up juices and nutrients.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a sucking pest infestation include a sticky residue known as honey dew, stunted or distorted leaf growth, and mottled or discolored leaves. Honey dew residue may attract a dark, sooty mold.

Treatment

A forceful, direct stream of water may be effective in dislodging less severe pest infestations. Serious infestations may require the use of a systematic insecticide. A horticultural oil spray may help control pests such as the sixspotted spider mite.

References

• University of California: Sixspotted Spider Mite on Plumeria
• Plumeria Society: Pests and Diseases