What's eating my japanese persimmon?

Japanese persimmon trees attract oriental fruit moth and codling moth whose larvae bore into fruit, mealybugs that cluster at branch junctions, and scale insects on bark. Deer and squirrels raid the hanging ripe fruit. In North America, the persimmon psylla causes leaf curl. Mealybug is the most persistent year-round indoor/nursery pest on young trees.

Larvae bore into developing fruit, creating frass-filled tunnels; affected fruit drops prematurely or is unmarketable; shoot-tip wilting ('flagging') indicates early-season attacks on new growth. Hang pheromone traps to monitor adult flight and time spray applications; apply spinosad or Bt at egg hatch; bag individual fruits with paper bags after fruit set in home orchards.

White waxy colonies cluster in branch crotches, at the calyx of fruits, and under bark; excreted honeydew promotes sooty mould and reduces fruit quality. Dab individual colonies with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap targeting crawler stage in late spring; encourage lacewings and ladybirds.

Brown dome-shaped scales encrust young branches, weakening growth and producing honeydew; severe infestations on young trees can cause die-back. Apply dormant horticultural oil in late winter before budbreak; scrub accessible scale with a soft brush; prune out heavily infested wood.

Squirrels take ripening or ripe fruit from the tree; deer reach low-hanging persimmons and browse tender shoots and bark on young trunks. Baffles on the trunk prevent squirrel climbing; harvest fruit promptly as it colours up; protect young tree trunks with wire mesh guards against deer rub and browsing.