Acer problem....?

Hi i noticed a few sticky leaves on my acer i looked but cannot see no bugs only a couple of ants shall i use water and washing up liquid just in case there are any apids hiding?
My acer in a big tub but a fewtimes thedirt in the tub been disturbed like something been digging its not every night its now and then its puzzling any thoughts
I read acer dont like very hot sunny spots yet when mine was in the shade it was not doing so well now its in a sunny spot its almost doubled its size in a few months! And bushy are there some acers that like sunny spots?

 

Could be squirrels. Or Blackbirds or Thrushes hunting for insects.

I've read that as well, but I think it depends on the Acer; I think the lighter the colour and the finer the leaf divisions are the more they suffer. The same applies to wind especially in spring time.
If not aphids have a look for scale insects.
I think I would leave things alone until I had more evidence of a pest. Note I am a lazy so and so.

 

Digging in pots happens all the time around here.
I feed peanuts to the birds which the squirrels bury in the pots.
Found one growing the other day.
Foxes dig a lot as well.

 

Hi thanks nigel and pete and nigel you not lazy lol you areright using the right treatment will kill the right pest and most likely it was squirrel