12 Houseplants Insect Pests: How to Identify and Get Rid of Bugs from Indoor Plants

Mealybugs are white, soft-bodied, cottony-looking, sap-sucking insects. Large clusters occur on stems and under the leaves of many plants. A serious attack can lead to stunted growth, wilting, yellowing and leaf fall on the plants.

Mealybugs also excrete large amounts of honeydew which attracts ants and is a fertile ground for black sooty mold and disease infestations. Learn more on how to control mealybugs on houseplants.

Aphids are tiny, soft-bodied insects also commonly called Plant Lice. They are sap-sucking insects which are usually green but may be black, grey or orange.

All plants with soft tissues can be attacked by aphids; the shoot tips and flower buds are the most often attacked. This weakens the plant, causes yellowing, stunted growth, distorted growth and leaf curl. Read more on how to get rid of aphids from indoor plants.

Spider mites are minute sap-sucking insects which infest the underside of leaves of almost all houseplants growing in stuffy, dry conditions. They may be red, green or yellow in color.

Spider mites cause yellow blotches on the upper surface of the leaves and premature leaf fall. They appear as white webbing between the leaves and stems. Learn more on how to control spider mites on houseplants.

Scale insects are small, brown discs attached to the underside of leaves and on the stem from where they suck the plant sap. They are covered with an outer waxy shell which protect them from chemical penetration.

A heavy Scale Insects infestation can cause stunted growth, wilting, yellowing of leaves and leaf drop. Scales produce a sticky honeydew which attracts ants and is a fertile ground for black sooty mold. Read more on how to treat scale insects on indoor plants.

Fungus gnats are a major problem in houseplants. The small, black, flying adult is harmless. The problem is that it lays eggs in the soil which hatch into tiny, black-headed maggots which are harmful.

These maggots normally feed on organic matter but they can devour young roots. The gnats are troublesome in over-damp conditions. Learn how to get rid of fungus gnats from indoor plants.

Whiteflies are tiny, white moth-like insects which occur in clusters on the underside of leaves. They are sap-sucking insects, which secrete a honeydew sticky substance which attracts ants and a sooty black mold.

Infestation by Whiteflies results in leaves turning yellow and dropping, stunted growth and a sticky, sugary substance on the leaves. Whiteflies are common on Begonia, Fuchsia, Impatiens and Pelargonium. Read more on how to control whiteflies on houseplants.

Thrips are tiny, black insects which fly or jump from leaf to leaf, causing tell-tale silvery streaks. They feed on the plant sap and a severe infestation can cause dehydration, resulting in wilting and drooping of the leaves.

Thrips attack the soft growing tissue and cause the worst damage on flowers which become spotted and distorted. They also cause stunted growth, yellowing and leaf loss. Learn more on how to get rid of thrips from indoor plants.

Cyclamen Mites are minute mites, looking like a film of dust on the underside of leaves. These pests will flourish in cool, humid conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

Infested houseplants are stunted, have curled leaf edges, twisted stems and withered flower buds. They are especially common in Cyclamens, Pelargoniums and Saintpaulia (African Violets). Read on how to control cyclamen mites on houseplants.

Root-knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp) also called eelworms are microscopic soil-living worms which interfere with the plants' ability to absorb water, resulting in wilting, drooping, yellowing and eventual plant collapse for no apparent reason.

Root-knot nematodes invade the plant roots from where they rapidly reproduce and release chemicals that cause root cells to grow and form galls (swellings). A look at the roots shows swellings (knots) which interfere with absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. Learn more on how to get rid of root-knot nematodes from houseplants.

The adult bettles of the Vine Weevils chew the leaves at night causing characteristic, U-shaped notches along the edges of the leaves.

The creamy-white, C-shaped, legless grubs (larvae) with light brown heads which live in the soil, cause the real damage; they rapidly devour plant roots, bulbs and tubers. Their presence is indicated by wilting, drooping and sudden collapse of the plant. Read more on how to control vine weevil on houseplants.

Earwigs are dark-brown pests with a pincer-like tail. They hide during the day and feed at night on the leaves and the flower buds. They thrive in damp, dark conditions.

The presence of Earwig Pests on houseplants is marked by ragged holes on the leaves and flowers and/or tunnels in the soil. Learn more on how to get rid of earwigs from indoor plants.

Many types of caterpillars can infest houseplants but rarely do they attack plants that are grown indoors. The caterpillars vary in color from green, red, brown or black.

The main sign of the caterpillars on the plants is the presence of holes in the leaves; they are rarely seen as they eat up the plant and go into hiding. Read more on how to control caterpillars on houseplants.