What's eating my hackberry bonsai?

Hackberry Bonsai is most distinctively attacked by the hackberry nipple gall psyllid, which creates warty leaf galls each season. Aphids and spider mites also target this bonsai, especially in warm dry spells. Outdoors, caterpillars of the hackberry emperor butterfly may eat foliage — cosmetic but rarely fatal to a healthy specimen.

Distinctive nipple-shaped green or yellow galls on upper leaf surfaces; affected leaves may drop early No effective chemical control once galls form; remove heavily galled leaves; systemic insecticides applied before bud-break may reduce the following year's pressure

Sticky honeydew on leaves; distorted tender shoots; sooty mold following heavy infestations Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; blast off with water; avoid excess nitrogen feeding

Bronze or silver stippling on leaves; fine webbing; leaf drop in dry indoor or outdoor conditions Mist regularly; apply miticide or neem oil; keep the bonsai well-watered to reduce plant stress