What's eating my sasanqua camellia 'yuletide'?

Sasanqua Camellia 'Yuletide' blooms in winter when most pests are dormant, but tea scale insects on leaf undersides are the most persistent year-round threat. Vine weevil grubs damage roots, and camellia aphids disfigure spring shoots. Being a compact cultivar, scale infestations can build up quickly — inspect leaf undersides monthly during the growing season.

Yellow blotches on upper leaf surface; white to tan oval scales coating undersides; severe infestations cause leaf drop Apply horticultural oil to undersides of leaves in spring at crawler emergence. Two treatments, 2–3 weeks apart, give good control. Avoid overhead irrigation, which spreads crawlers.

Notched leaf margins cut by adult weevils at night; larvae chew roots, causing wilting and die-back Drench soil with beneficial nematodes in late summer. Use sticky barriers on containers to trap adults.

Black aphids clustered on new shoot tips and around flower buds; honeydew leads to sooty mold Squash by hand or blast with water. Insecticidal soap spray if colonies are established. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds / ladybugs.