Are Lace Bugs Damaging My Azaleas?
Azalea bushes are a very popular specimen for a number of reasons such as their wide variety of colors, low maintenance nature and vibrant seasonal blooms. However, they are very susceptible to a few different pests and diseases; one being the azalea lace bug.
What is the azalea lace bug?
The azalea lace bug is one of the most commonly reported landscape pests. They are named after the lace appearance on their wings. They tend to live and feed on the chlorophyll on the underside of leaves, though they are very hard to see, measuring at only 1/8 inch long.
What are the signs of the lace bug?
Since the azalea lace bug is so small, it is usually identified by the damage left behind. The most common symptoms of lace bug damage on azaleas are:
Sticky, black or rust colored substance on leaves
Bleached out or silvery looking leaves
How do I treat it?
As always, the best treatment is first prevention. Proper planting is especially important for azaleas as one getting too much sun or drought can naturally attract the lace bugs. A routine pruning maintenance and fertilization plant, customized by a lawn care specialist is recommended.
Once an azalea lace bug infestation is identified by a lawn care specialist, an insecticide will be applied. The technician will either apply the insecticide directly into the soil, spray the plant above ground, or both. The area of application will depend greatly on the severity of the infestation and the technicians recommendation. If you have lace bugs damaging your azalea bushes, click the link below to be connected with one of our plant health care specialists now!
