What's eating my bougainvillea 'san diego red'?

Bougainvillea 'San Diego Red' is as appealing to the bougainvillea looper as any cultivar — the caterpillar feeds at night, scalloping leaf edges rapidly and producing dark frass below. Aphids cluster on new growth, scale encrusts woody stems, and mealybugs lurk in branch crotches. An evening spray of Bt handles loopers safely; neem oil covers the sap-sucking pests.

Notched, scalloped, or fully missing leaf margins; dark frass pellets under leaves; most visible at night Spray Bt or spinosad in the evening; hand-pick caterpillars; neem soil soak provides longer systemic coverage

Clusters on tender shoot tips; honeydew residue; curled, stunted new growth Hose off with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat at 7-day intervals

White waxy deposits at stem junctions; honeydew; weakened, yellowing foliage Remove manually or with alcohol swab; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly; use systemic neem soil drench for severe cases

Encrusted brown or white bumps on stems; sooty mould; slow plant decline Scrub off with horticultural oil and stiff brush; target crawlers with insecticidal soap in spring