What's eating my chinese hackberry?

Chinese Hackberry is commonly targeted by hackberry nipple gall psyllids, which cause distinctive bumps on leaves. Aphids, caterpillars, and spider mites can also attack. Wildlife including deer may browse young trees. Established trees tolerate most pest pressure well without intervention.

Distinctive raised nipple-like galls on upper leaf surfaces; heavy infestations cause cosmetic leaf distortion Rarely requires treatment on mature trees; apply systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) in spring at bud break for severe cases

Sticky honeydew, yellowing or curling leaves, sooty mold on stems and leaves Encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings); knock off with water; insecticidal soap if infestation is heavy

Irregular notching and holes in leaf margins; leaf drop on small or young trees Hand-pick small infestations; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for caterpillar outbreaks; tolerate minor damage on mature trees