What's eating my california nutmeg?

California Nutmeg (Torreya californica) faces few pest threats in garden settings. Scale insects and aphid colonies are the primary nuisances. In its native California, it is susceptible to a foliar disease and bark cankers under stress, but pest insects rarely cause serious damage. Drought stress is the biggest trigger for secondary pest attack.

Brown waxy bumps on stems and branches; sticky honeydew leading to sooty mould; gradual decline in heavy infestations. Thorough dormant horticultural oil spray in late winter. Prune heavily scaled branches. Systemic imidacloprid drench for established trees with persistent infestations.

Dark aphid clusters on new shoots and stem bark in spring; honeydew; minor aesthetic damage. Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Encourage beneficial insects. Strong water jet to remove colonies from accessible branches.

Entry holes with pitch tubes on stressed or weakened bark; larval galleries causing bark dieback; crown decline. Prevent drought stress; water during dry summers. Remove infested wood promptly. Preventive pyrethroid bark sprays for high-value trees before spring beetle flight.