What's eating my deshojo japanese maple?

Deshojo Japanese Maple is particularly attractive to aphids, which colonize its vivid spring growth. Spider mites and scale can follow. As a bonsai or garden tree, vine weevil grubs threaten roots in containers and deer will browse low branches. Spring scouting when buds break is critical for control.

Distorted, curled new leaves coated in sticky honeydew; sooty mold follows; worst on soft red spring foliage Hose off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid nitrogen-heavy feeding that produces excess soft growth

Yellow stippling on leaf surfaces, fine webbing on undersides; leaves may brown and drop in midsummer Increase humidity; rinse foliage with water regularly; treat with neem oil or miticide at first sign of webbing

Root destruction by larvae in container-grown specimens causes sudden wilt and collapse of the tree Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist soil in late summer; check root ball when repotting and remove white grubs