What's eating my shohin japanese maple?

Shohin Japanese Maple bonsai faces aphids as the most persistent threat, particularly on tender spring growth. Vine weevil grubs can destroy roots in pots, and spider mites cause leaf scorch in summer. Deer will browse unprotected trees. The compact bonsai form demands vigilant, regular pest inspection.

Sticky honeydew, curled or distorted new spring leaves, sooty mold; colonies cluster on soft shoot tips Spray with a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybugs; remove heavily colonized tips

Grubs eat roots in the bonsai pot, causing sudden wilting and collapse; adults notch leaf margins at night Apply vine weevil biological control (Steinernema kraussei nematodes) to the soil in late summer; use neonicotinoid soil drench for severe cases

Pale stippling, bronzing, and fine webbing on leaf undersides, especially during hot dry summers Mist foliage frequently; apply neem oil or proprietary miticide; move bonsai to a shadier spot during heat