What's eating my yew bonsai?

Yew Bonsai is most seriously threatened by vine weevil, whose grubs destroy roots from below ground. Scale insects colonize the dense bark, and taxus mealybugs can hide deep in foliage. Deer are very attracted to yew foliage when the bonsai is outdoors — even small browsing bouts damage the compact silhouette badly.

Sudden wilting and collapse; C-shaped white grubs found eating roots in the pot; notched leaf margins from adults Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late summer or autumn; use vine weevil compost treatment

Crusty or waxy bumps on bark and stems; yellowing and needle drop; sooty mold on honeydew Scrub off with alcohol and a soft brush; spray horticultural oil during dormancy; repeat in early spring

White woolly deposits deep in foliage; sticky honeydew; general decline if untreated Remove with alcohol-dipped cotton swab; apply neem oil or systemic insecticide; improve air circulation

Browsed foliage and broken branches; yew is highly palatable to deer and heavily targeted Keep bonsai on a raised stand well above deer reach outdoors; apply deer repellent spray to foliage