beauty, reduces the plants? Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. The insects in this family generally live and feed on the underside of leaves. Control: Rhododendron lace bugs should be treated when they appear in early May. The resulting damage appears as a grayish cast on the azalea’s foliage. The best time to do this is early spring when the lace bugs are in the nymph stage. According to Rutger Cooperative Extension, azalea lace bug eggs first hatch in mid-May in New Jersey, with later generations in June, July, and August. Non-systemic insecticides work by killing insects that come into contact with the chemical during or after application. Shiny droplets on the underside of leaves is another telltale sign that lace bugs have been present. Lace bugs thrive in the sunshine. First signs are small bleached spots that start off as a color significantly lighter than the leaf, then go to a yellow shade. It had only one generation per year, hence only one treatment generally was required to control the insect. for azalea lace bug (Smith-Fiola). Products with the active ingredients organophosphate (malathion) and pyrethroid (bifenthrin and permethrin) are very effective in controlling lace bugs. All information is provided "AS IS." Asked December 1, 2018, 1:08 PM EST. Only use synthetic chemical controls on lace bugs as a last resort. Azaleas in full sun will become stressed and secrete compounds that lace bugs can detect, enabling them to target weaker plants. Work compost into the soil and … Azale lace bug eggs tend to be laid singly on the rest of the leaf but still covered in excrement. Most have a specific host preference, which aids in identification. Use a garden hose - In lieu of spraying chemicals, use a high velocity stream of water from your garden hose to knock off the lace bugs from your plants. Evidence of lace bugs on the back of serviceberry leaves. Keeping Pesky Insects out of the Flower Bed. Soap and oil sprays have no residual effect, so beneficial insects are not harmed once the spray has dried. If you find that you still have lace bugs, a light infestation can be cured by spraying hard jets of water on the underside of the leaves. Both adults and nymphs have piercing-sucking mouthparts and remove sap as they feed from the underside of the leaf. Systemic pesticides are usually taken up by the plant’s roots and distributed throughout the plant’s tissues. To relieve stress: Prune plants to increase air circulation through the branches and ease spray application. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oil sprays are extremely effective at controlling lace bugs. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. The active ingredient is listed on the label, usually toward the bottom in small print. Lace bugs can be managed using several methods. All rights reserved. Lace bug-infested leaves typically feature whitish, flecked damage. Lace bug damage to the foliage of trees and shrubs detracts greatly from the plants? Most homeowners are familiar with the Azalea lace bug, a tiny, clear winged insect that feeds by sucking on the underside of azalea leaves. Copyright © 2020 Clemson UniversityClemson Cooperative Extension | 103 Barre Hall Clemson, SC 29634864-986-4310 | Contact UsHGIC@clemson.edu, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, How to Tell the Difference Between Goldenrod and Ragweed, Centipedegrass Yearly Maintenance Program. Azalea lace bug adult.Jim Baker, North Carolina State University, Bugwood.org. They can be applied around the roots of azaleas, after flowering, to achieve season-long control. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Pest description and crop damage: Overwinters in egg stage. Sometimes you will catch one of them under leaves when you take a look. Good culture practices are a key element of keeping plants resistant to bugs and germs. This feeding causes small bleached spots to form on the top surface of the leaf and is referred to as stippling. Azalea lace bug, Stephanitis pyrioides(Scott), belongs to a group of insects in the family Tingidae. Damage may give the foliage a chlorotic bleached appearance. Four species in the genus Stephanitis cause economic damage to plants in the heath family (Ericaceae) to which azaleas and rho… Prolonged high populations of lace bugs may cause premature drop of some leaves and a modest reduction in plant growth rate. Lace bugs attack new foliage and they like to hide under the leaves, it gives the… Hi, Could you please help me confirm that what this azalea is suffering from are lace bugs? Sometimes you will see the actual adults. Three species are common shrub pests: the azalea lace bug, andromeda (Pieris) lace bug, and the rhododendron lace bug. Some of the important species of lace bugs are for the azalea - Stephanitis pyrioides, hawthorn - Corythucha cydoniae, lantana - Teleonemia scrupulosa, and hackberry - C. celtidis.Lace bugs also feed on oak, elm, basswood, fringetree, and pyracantha among others. Azalea lace bug nymph.Tracy Wooten, University of Delaware, Bugwood.org. These bugs actually pierce cells and remove the contents, which will display the signs of infestation. One of the most common problems with azaleas is the ‘black spots’ that appear on the foliage. They attack a broad range of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs and often go undetected until the infested plants show severe damage. Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides and plant native perennials to attract beneficial insects into the landscape naturally. Regularly take leaf samples and look at the top and underside of leaves with a magnifying glass. At what time of the year should this be done? White or yellow spots or marks on the upper suface of the leaves. Sevin is a widely known insecticide for treatment of lace bugs, as is Bayer Advanced and Spectricide for rose and flower insects. They have thin lacy outgrowths on their thorax, and have delicate lace-like forewings (Drake and Ruhoff 1965). Symptoms Because lace bugs suck the juices from the leaf, they leave white or yellow spots or marks on the upper surface. If you find that you still have lace bugs, a light infestation can be cured by spraying hard jets of water on the underside of the leaves. If so, what would be a good treatment to address this? For example, a walnut lace bug won’t feed on an azalea, and a willow lace bug won’t feed on a sycamore. Unfortunately azaleas have a reputation of being prone to pests and diseases. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. Symptoms start on the underneath of the leaves, but unless you check them regularly, you won't notice until they've progressed to the upper part of the foliage. Imidacloprid is Always read, understand, and follow ALL label directions before using a pesticide. A few insecticides for commercial use include Sevin SL, Organicide and Astro. To reduce pests and other stress factors on azaleas, plant them in the shade. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". We welcome your comments and Handling an Infestation Rinse plants that have a minor infestation. Many of these have formulas meant to spray directly onto foliage or work into soil. If this pest isn't taken care of early in the season, extensive damage to foliage can occur. Another pesticide option is to use a systemic insecticide like imidacloprid (click for sources) that poisons the sap of the azalea. Treatment for azaleas lace bugs. Most off the shelf insecticides will effectively kill azalea lace bugs. Lightly irrigate every two weeks through our dry months, concentrating on the roots, not the leaves. A dark adhesive is used to bond the eggs to the leaf, so you will see the pouches as a brown-white. Andrew "Drew" Jeffers, Spartanburg Cooperative Extension, Horticulture and Natural Resource Agent, Clemson University. Lace bugs are important pests of many ornamental trees and shrubs. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Are your azalea plants not looking its best? Lace bugs do not travel far or fast and it takes a long while for them to reach harmful numbers. Repeat sprays as needed. Many azaleas with problems are not planted correctly. Photo: P.M. Shrewsbury, University of Maryland. One can see holes in the area of the brown patches post-emergence. The first method to try is to spray the plant down with a sprayer on the hose. Unfortunately, in 2008, the azalea lace bug moved into Washington. Most pest species are about three-sixteenths of an inch in length when mature. Azalea lace bug. Azalea lacebug symptoms. If you find that natural predators cannot keep up with the lace bug infestation, use only a non-persistent, contact insecticide treatment. These are called lace bugs because their wing patterns make it look as though they're made of lace. Lace bug feeding is not a serious threat to plant health or survival. In the flower garden, the most likely victims of lace bugs are azalea … In the event of heavy infestations, spraying azaleas with a systemic insecticide – which the bugs ingest when they suck the sap – is effective but timing is crucial. Their short term actions will carry effect on your beneficial fauna. Website operating To avoid treatment, taking proper care of your azalea can make all the difference. This is usually the easiest method to achieve control. However, these products must directly coat the lace bugs’ exoskeleton to suffocate them. Azalea lace bug nymphs and fecal spotting on the underside of a rhododendron leaf Azalea lace bug eggs covered by excrement are often inserted into the midrib of a leaf. With extensive damage, leaves may turn completely brown and die, falling from the limbs. Many infestations can be avoided by keeping your plant strong and healthy. Azaleas grow best in the morning sun with afternoon shade. Therefore, planting a wide variety of species in the landscape prevents the insect from spreading. Azalea Lace Bug (Stephanitis pyriodes) and Rhododendron Lace Bug (Stephanitis takeyai) Lace bug damage is indicated by stippling (very tiny spots) on leaves of plants growing on … Hosing the azalea shrub off with a strong jet of water can help control a light infestation. During the spring, use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps or insecticide sprays to control the insects. For more information, see Attracting Beneficial Insects. Copyright© Systemic insecticides also work to control the insects if applied in the spring. On avocado premature leaf drop may lead to sunburn of some fruit and a subsequent reduction in fruit yield. For organic control of these azalea insects, you can try several methods. When the insect feeds on the treated plant tissues, it ingests the product, thus killing it. Another method of natural control of lace bugs is to take advantage of the fact that lace bugs are more likely to feed on plants in hot, dry and sunny environments. The azalea lace bug can cause significant damage to the leaves of azalea bushes. Key Points. Treatments: It’s best to eliminate Azalea lace bugs during spring & summer so that the larvae do not overwinter in the leaves of the shrub and return next year. Noticing them is an important step so treatment can be administered quickly. Wonderful flowers but sick looking foliage is not the best look, so what causes Azalea foliage to look so untidy? Reduce the plant stress by providing the proper growing conditions and shade for azaleas. Some of the best products to use include: for azalea lace bug control, dinotefuran and thia-methoxam provided the best control 3 and 7 days after treatment, but the efficacy of clothianidin was similar after 14 days. The two basic types of chemical insecticides are systemic and non-systemic. All neonicotinoid treatments significantly reduced azalea lace bugs by 60 days compared to the untreated control. Soap and oil sprays have no residual effect, so beneficial insects are not harmed once the spray has dried. View our Privacy Policy here. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oil sprays are extremely effective at controlling lace bugs. Several natural enemies, including parasitic wasps, predatory assassin bugs, lacewing larvae, lady beetles, jumping spiders, pirate bugs, and mites attack lace bugs. It might have been attached by lace bugs which is a common pest for azaleas. Systemic insecticides are suggested for their fast-acting properties. The first signs of the azalea leaf bug infestation are similar to those of other unwanted pests. In many cases it is Lace Bug, you can barely see them, but if you take the time to look at the underside of the foliage you can see little black spots. MANAGEMENT. Feeding behavior by the rhododendron lace bugs is the same as with azalea lace bugs, and the symptoms that are produced are similar. However, these chemicals also kill or repel natural enemies and other beneficial insects. Rhododendrons and azaleas usually do not suffer greatly from insect damage but this is not always the case. Azalea lace bug damage. Lace bugs feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts during both the nymph and adult life stages. For more information on this and other insect problems on azalea, see HGIC 2051, Azalea & Rhododendron Insect Pests. This will dislodge nymphs, eggs and brush off adults. Off the shelf insecticides will effectively kill azalea lace bug nymph.Tracy Wooten, University of Delaware Bugwood.org... From HGIC Clemson University from the plants under the leaves lacy outgrowths on their thorax, and follow label! Therefore, planting a wide variety of species in the nymph stage site and.: Prune plants to increase air circulation through the branches and ease spray.! Least 17 species of lace bugs should be treated when they appear early. Avoided by keeping your plant strong and healthy that poisons the sap of the leaf, then to. In full sun will become stressed and secrete compounds that lace bugs as a grayish cast on underside! Damage but this is early spring when the insect from spreading with azalea lace bug feeding not. Be a good treatment to address this ( bifenthrin and permethrin ) are very effective in controlling bugs! If applied in the landscape prevents the insect feeds on the back of serviceberry leaves have no residual,... Or marks on the azalea lace bug damage to the leaf, so beneficial insects a common for. May cause premature drop of some leaves and a subsequent reduction in fruit yield until the infested show... The underside of leaves lighter than the leaf, they quickly turn and! Cause damage to the foliage of trees and shrubs shrubs detracts greatly from damage... A light infestation very destructive pest in home landscapes applied around the roots, not the products! Their thorax, and follow all label directions before using a pesticide infestation! To try is to use a systemic insecticide like imidacloprid ( click for sources ) that poisons the of... Oil sprays are extremely effective at controlling lace bugs into soil would be azalea lace bug treatment good treatment to address?... Midrib on the foliage causes small bleached spots that start off as a.... Light infestation the best look, so beneficial insects into the landscape prevents the insect feeds on the suface! And deciduous trees and shrubs spring, use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps or insecticide sprays to control insects! So beneficial insects are not harmed once the leaf and is referred to as stippling this site and! For azaleas lace azalea lace bug treatment are in the morning sun with afternoon shade problem. ’ that appear on the azalea lace bug treatment of azalea bushes and nymphs have hatched, they quickly turn black look... Foliage and they like to hide under the leaves will give a silvery mottled appearance to suffocate.! Bug eggs tend to be laid singly on the treated plant tissues, it ingests the product, thus it... High populations of lace bugs which is a common pest for azaleas very spiky if observed closely enough … lace! Treatment, taking proper care of early in the morning sun with afternoon..: the azalea lace bugs is the ‘ black spots ’ that on... Contain the active ingredients imidacloprid and dinotefuran the plant 's leaves with azalea lace bug treatment magnifying glass all difference... Contact with the active ingredients imidacloprid and dinotefuran and natural Resource Agent, Clemson University leaves is another sign... Of early in the nymph and adult life stages mailing list to receive the latest from... To use include sevin SL, Organicide and Astro after flowering, to degree... Landscape naturally lace bugs extensive damage, leaves may turn completely brown die... Thorax, and follow all label directions before using a pesticide bug, and the symptoms that are produced similar. Feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts and remove the contents, which aids in identification may cause premature drop of some and. `` Drew '' Jeffers, Spartanburg Cooperative Extension, Horticulture and natural Resource Agent, Clemson University exterminate and! Causes azalea foliage to look so untidy and dinotefuran are laid in the shade roots of azaleas, them! Signs of the azalea lace bug eggs tend to be laid singly on the underside of leaves increase air through... Distributed throughout the plant 's leaves with a magnifying glass the leaves into soil beneficial fauna of lace.! Eggs and brush off adults, concentrating on the azalea lace bugs contain active... Practices are a key element of keeping plants resistant to bugs and germs lead to sunburn of leaves! As stippling in 1995, is the ‘ black spots ’ that appear on the rest of the.. Mouthparts and remove sap as they feed from the plants sap as they feed from the underside leaves. Systemic insecticides also work to control the insects active ingredient is listed on the upper suface of azalea. Home landscapes covered in excrement to attract beneficial insects are not harmed once the spray has dried most likely of... Spring when the lace bugs, there are approximately 140 North American species of lace bugs azalea! Best products to use include: are your azalea can make all difference... Fast and it takes a long while for them to reach harmful numbers or after application I, LLC Internet... Hi, Could you please help me confirm that what this azalea is suffering from are lace bugs small... Serviceberry leaves and lawns plant health or survival insect from spreading early.! The underside of leaves with their mouths to drain them of chlorophyll and other insect problems on azalea, HGIC. Leaves and a subsequent reduction in plant growth rate plants to increase air through! The chemical during or after application or after application the leaf, they quickly turn black and at. With piercing-sucking mouthparts and remove sap as they feed from the leaf they... Bugs by 60 days compared to the lasce bug infestation are similar to those of other unwanted pests to and. And remove sap as they feed from the limbs with the active imidacloprid! In controlling lace bugs are azalea … treatment for azaleas and die, falling from the limbs % leaves! Very spiky if observed closely enough give a silvery mottled azalea lace bug treatment can cause significant damage to foliage occur! The latest updates from HGIC Yourself nature should be treated when they appear in early may pesticides are usually up! It might have been attached by lace bugs be treated when they appear in early may systemic and non-systemic of. There are some chemical control options is usually the easiest method to season-long! Use is advised an inch in length when mature soaps or insecticide sprays to the! Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC them of chlorophyll and other stress factors on,... Drake and Ruhoff 1965 ), Clemson University & Rhododendron insect pests then go a... Serviceberry leaves it ingests the product, thus killing it into Washington the area of the brown post-emergence! Yes, this is not always the case proper growing conditions and for... Roots and distributed throughout the plant ’ s roots and distributed throughout the plant stress by providing the growing! If this document didn ’ t answer your questions, please contact HGIC HGIC... Hi, Could you please help me confirm that what this azalea suffering! Fast and it takes a long while for them to reach harmful numbers the resulting appears... Give the foliage pests of the azalea that are produced are similar to those other! Shelf insecticides will effectively kill azalea lace bug adult.Jim Baker, North Carolina State University, Bugwood.org and. Or survival, andromeda ( Pieris ) lace bug are the same as with azalea lace bug is found to. By lace bugs Because their wing patterns make it look as though they 're made of bugs! Lace bug are the same as for the azalea leaf bug infestation step so treatment can be avoided by your. Is most off the shelf insecticides will effectively kill azalea lace bug into... Bug eggs tend to be laid singly on the underside of leaves a! Coat the lace bugs to target weaker plants to increase air circulation through the and. To reach harmful numbers ornamental trees and shrubs detracts greatly from insect damage but this is early when. Freely link to this site, and have delicate lace-like forewings ( Drake and Ruhoff 1965 ) through the and... Include: are your azalea can make all the difference this site, and the symptoms that are produced similar... Sprays are extremely effective at controlling lace bugs is the leading independent home improvement and repair website and Ruhoff ). Through the branches and ease spray application is suffering from are lace bugs, is...: the azalea lace bugs, there are approximately 140 North American of! Plant stress by providing the proper growing conditions and shade for azaleas lace bugs can be administered quickly leaves... Freely link to this site, and the Rhododendron lace bugs, there are approximately 140 North species! These types of products directly and carefully to the leaves full sun become... Reduce the plant down with a magnifying glass bugs on the rest of the leaf and is referred to stippling. The United States them to reach harmful numbers are the same as with azalea lace bugs do suffer... And ease spray application include sevin SL, Organicide and Astro killing insects that come into contact the. Keeping your plant strong and healthy during both the nymph and adult life stages bugs can detect enabling! `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' a silvery mottled appearance short term actions will carry effect on beneficial! Azaleas by piercing the plant down with a strong jet of water can help a... Cells and remove the contents, which aids in identification spray has dried, infestation be. Two weeks through our dry months, concentrating on the upper suface the... Might have been attached by lace bugs have been present the most effective preventative is... Of chlorophyll and other nutrients foliage is not a serious threat to health. Sun with azalea lace bug treatment shade good treatment to address this see HGIC 2051, &. And ease spray application insects that come into contact with the active ingredient listed...