What's eating my acer palmatum 'orangeola'?

Acer palmatum 'Orangeola' is most threatened by aphids — particularly the sycamore aphid — which colonise shoot tips and cause honeydew sooty mould. Vine weevils attack container specimens. Scale insects and tarsonemid mites also occur. Aphids are the most consistently damaging pest; treat with insecticidal soap before populations build.

Sticky honeydew coats leaves; black sooty mould develops; distorted young shoots in spring Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to shoot tips; encourage natural predators such as lacewings and parasitic wasps

Root-feeding grubs cause sudden wilting of container specimens; adults notch leaf edges at night Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer; inspect roots when repotting

Brown or white waxy bumps on stems and branches; weakened growth; honeydew and sooty mould Scrub off with a soft brush and soapy water; apply horticultural oil (white oil) in late winter