What's eating my halesia carolina?

Halesia carolina (Carolina silverbell) is relatively pest-resistant but faces aphids, scale insects, and borers in garden settings. Deer occasionally browse young growth. The tree's main threat is ambrosia beetles attacking stressed specimens. Good cultural care — adequate water and mulch — is the primary defense.

Clusters of soft insects on new shoots cause curled, sticky leaves and sooty mold on stems beneath colonies. Knock off with a strong jet of water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to persistent colonies. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings.

Bumpy, waxy brown or tan bumps on stems and branches; leaves yellow and drop; sticky honeydew promotes sooty mold. Scrape off by hand on small branches; apply horticultural oil in late winter to smother overwintering crawlers.

Tiny entry holes with toothpick-like frass tubes in the bark of stressed trunks; can girdle and kill weakened trees. Keep trees vigorous with adequate irrigation and mulch; remove and destroy heavily infested wood; preventive pyrethroid bark sprays on high-value specimens.