Identifying and Treating Pests on a Rice Paper Plant

A reader in Windsor, Ontario, brought a rice paper plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer) indoors for winter after it grew four feet tall over two summers. Recently, a single leaf showed a clean bite mark, but no culprit was visible at night.

Possible Culprits

The damage could be from a caterpillar (moth larva) or even a vole (a small rodent). Since only one or two leaves are affected, the plant’s overall health isn’t at serious risk.

Recommended Actions

• Set a standard mouse trap near the pot to catch any voles.
• Place pantry‑pest traps (pheromone traps for moths) in the area; these are available in hardware stores or grocery aisles.
• If you prefer a non‑trap approach, spray the entire plant—including the soil surface—with a 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. This kills soft‑bodied insects and any soil‑dwelling pests without harming the plant.

Winter Care Tip

Repotting annually with fresh soil isn’t necessary. Many growers simply spray the plant with the alcohol solution before bringing it inside, which prevents hitchhiking pests from emerging later as moths that could infest pantry goods.