July 2019 - 10

Headlines/Calendar
Lose the (Azalea) Lace Bugs
Jill Calabro, Research and Science Director,
HRI & AmericanHort
Cherry blossoms hog the flowering plant spotlight every
spring in the D.C. area, but there's another woody out there
that deserves equal (if not more) attention: azaleas. And one
of the best places to see them in all their glory is at the U.S.
National Arboretum (USNA).
Every spring, over 10,000 azaleas stun visitors with
gorgeous pink, purple, coral and white blooms. In fact, these
beautiful blooms first prompted the USNA to open to the
public 70 years ago.
But every rose has its thorn. And in the case of azaleas, that
thorn is azalea lace bug.
Azalea lace bug is one of the most common pests on
azaleas and can be devastating. Early infestations are discreet
and may go unnoticed until the damage becomes severe. If
you see azalea leaves that look like they are covered with tiny
white-to-yellow colored dots or leaves that look unusually
yellow with green veins, azalea lace bug may be the culprit.
Repeated infestations can result in plant death.
These little bugs are inconspicuous, covertly waging
warfare against azaleas. They prefer the undersides of leaves
and are small; so, they are not obvious. Plus, larvae are nearly
translucent and wingless, making them even harder to detect.
They feed in clusters, sucking sap from the plant and draining
it of nutrients and chlorophyll. Adults are no more than 1 ¼
inch long with translucent, lace-like wings (hence the name).
It overwinters as black eggs on leaf undersides often found
along leaf veins. After hatching in spring, this pest completes its
life cycle in about 40 days. This means there can be as many as
four generations per year - maybe even five in southern states.
If infestations persist, the plant will suffer and become
increasingly susceptible to other pests, diseases and weather
extremes. Premature leaf drop may occur, and small shrubs are
at a greater risk for death.
Many control
options are
available. Before
planting,
consider the site. Azaleas grown in sunny locations tend to
be more susceptible to lace bug problems. Cultivars range in
terms of their tolerance of lace bug. Some are considered,
while others are considered moderately resistant.
Natural enemies do exist, such as minute pirate bugs, jumping
spiders, and lace wings. But in many situations, pesticide use
is warranted. Insecticidal soaps, contacts (such as pyrethroids
- be sure to apply to leaf undersides) and systemics (such as
neonicotinoids and acephate) have been shown effective. As
with most pest problems, insecticides will prevent and reduce
new damage, but they will not instantly make current damage
disappear. Plants will need to outgrow damaged foliage, and
this takes time.
CALENDAR
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July 2019

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