What's eating my nandina gulf stream?

Nandina Gulf Stream is notably pest-resistant, but aphids cluster on new spring growth and scale insects occasionally colonize stems. In mild, humid regions, whitefly can build up on foliage. Japanese beetles will skeletonize leaves where present. The plant is generally considered one of the lower-maintenance shrubs for pest management.

Sticky honeydew, curled or distorted new shoots, sooty mold; colonies visible on soft spring growth Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds and lacewings as natural predators

Brown waxy bumps on stems; yellowing leaves and sticky sooty mold deposits below Apply horticultural oil in late winter or when crawlers are active in spring; prune out badly affected stems

Skeletonized leaves with only veins remaining; adults feed in groups from midsummer Hand-pick adults into soapy water in early morning; apply milky spore or beneficial nematodes to lawn soil to reduce grubs