Pest identification
What's eating my flowering maple?
Whitefly
Signs: Clouds of white insects rise when plant is shaken; yellowing leaves coated in sticky honeydew; sooty mould follows.
Control: Use yellow sticky traps; spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days; remove heavily infested leaves.
Aphid
Signs: Soft green or black colonies crowd shoot tips and flower buds; leaves curl downward; honeydew drips onto lower leaves.
Control: Blast with water; treat with insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators outdoors (lacewings, ladybirds).
Spider mite
Signs: Pale bronze stippling on upper leaf surfaces; webbing on undersides; leaves look dusty and drop in severe cases.
Control: Raise humidity; rinse plant thoroughly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to all surfaces; repeat weekly.
Caterpillar
Signs: Ragged holes in leaves or entire leaflets consumed; frass (droppings) visible on leaves below; active outdoors in summer.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage in the evening; inspect regularly.
Keep flowering maple pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Flowering maple pests — FAQ
What is eating my flowering maple?
Flowering maple (Abutilon) is a magnet for whitefly — the number-one pest — and is also heavily attacked by aphids on soft new growth. Spider mites flare up indoors in dry conditions. Outdoors, caterpillars and Japanese beetles can shred foliage. Regular monitoring of leaf undersides is essential.
How do I get rid of whitefly on flowering maple?
Clouds of white insects rise when plant is shaken; yellowing leaves coated in sticky honeydew; sooty mould follows. Use yellow sticky traps; spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days; remove heavily infested leaves.
How do I get rid of aphid on flowering maple?
Soft green or black colonies crowd shoot tips and flower buds; leaves curl downward; honeydew drips onto lower leaves. Blast with water; treat with insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators outdoors (lacewings, ladybirds).
How do I get rid of spider mite on flowering maple?
Pale bronze stippling on upper leaf surfaces; webbing on undersides; leaves look dusty and drop in severe cases. Raise humidity; rinse plant thoroughly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to all surfaces; repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of caterpillar on flowering maple?
Ragged holes in leaves or entire leaflets consumed; frass (droppings) visible on leaves below; active outdoors in summer. Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage in the evening; inspect regularly.