What's eating my catawba rhododendron 'roseum elegans'?

Catawba Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans' is hardy but attacked by rhododendron lace bugs, which bleach the large leaves, and vine weevils, whose grubs devastate roots. Black vine weevil is especially destructive on containerized or garden specimens. Rhododendron borer moths tunnel into stems. Deer regularly browse the foliage in woodland garden settings.

Upper leaf surfaces turn pale and bleached from stippling; dark, varnish-like excrement specks on undersides Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to leaf undersides in late spring; repeat in early summer. Planting in partial shade significantly reduces pressure.

Notched leaf margins (adults); wilting, poor growth, and death from root-feeding larvae (white C-shaped grubs) Apply beneficial nematodes (Steinernema kraussei or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) to moist soil in late summer. For adults, set out sticky traps or apply pyrethrin at dusk.

Wilting of individual branches; frass and sawdust at the base of stems; tunnels visible when stem is cut Prune and destroy infested stems well below entry holes. Apply permethrin to stems in spring when adults emerge and lay eggs.

Leaves stripped from accessible branches; stems browsed; damage worst in late autumn and winter Apply scent repellent sprays (Bobbex, Deer Out) monthly and after rain. Deer netting protects young plants.