Recognition and Life Cycle Adults are about 1/8-inch long. Pest description and crop damage Overwinters in egg stage. Rhododendron varieties that are susceptible to damage should be grown in more shaded locations. Lace bugs are small insects that infest azaleas, rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and andromeda. They may attack rhododendron, mountain laurel and related plants. Repeat sprays as needed. Lace bugs also attack a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs. Lace bugs thrive in sunny locations since their natural enemies avoid these locations. Since then it has become widespread in England, where it can damage the foliage of Pieris and rhododendrons. (rhododendron lace bug) Toolbox. These lace bugs are whitish or yellowish with yellowish legs and antennae. As with all pesticides, read and follow all label directions and precautions. The same chemicals can be used on both of these bugs. Damage Azalea lace bug feeds on both evergreen and deciduous azaleas and rhododendrons. As azaleas begin to bloom, the insect begins its lifecycle. Most pest species are about three-sixteenths of an inch in length when mature. Rhododendron lace-bug, Stephanitus rhododendri, is a fairly common pest of certain Rhododendrons. Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) Rhododendron lace bug (Stephanitis rhododendri). Later, the leaves take on a bronzed appearance. The lacy wings (very distinctive) are held flat over the back and are transparent with two dark spots present. Here in the Pacific Northwest, rhododendron lace bug egg hatch is reported from mid-May through mid-June (Antonelli and Davidson, 2002) but has been noted as early as mid-April. Another lace bug is the rhododendron lace bug, which feeds on rhododendrons and some azaleas. There are dozens of species of lace bugs, and each one feeds on only one species of plant. It is, however, rarely diagnosed correctly. They have clear wings sporting dark blotches in a lacy pattern. The entire surface is covered with veins that look like lace. S. rhododendri has been in Females lay eggs partly into the plant tissue, hidden under poop. If more than 20% of leaves are damaged, chemical use is advised. The nymphs hatch from eggs in the spring and begin to feed on the underside of the leaves. Lace bugs are about 1/8 inch long. The young insects feed on sap and leave small drops of black excrement in their path. Early action is more effective at stopping infestations. Figure 1. Rhododendron Lace Bug. Recommended insecticides to control the Rhododendron lace bug are the same as for the azalea lace bug. Mites. On the underside if the damaged leaf, you may find several of the Rhododendron Bugs. The body is pale yellow. Lace bugs should not be confused with the beneficial lacewing insects that have long wings held vertically against their sides. The Tingidae are a family of very small (2–10 mm (0.08–0.39 in)) insects in the order Hemiptera that are commonly referred to as lace bugs.This group is distributed worldwide with about 2,000 described species.. varieties, although deciduous varieties may also be attacked. The azalea lace bug is particularly injurious to evergreen azalea (Rhododendron spp.) Nymphs are spiny, and dark, and develop through four growth stages. They are called lace bugs because the pronotum and fore wings of the adult have a delicate and intricate network of divided areas that resemble lace. Description. Explore these links to learn how to deal with Rhododendron lace-bug, ( Stephanitus rhododendri), and Azalea lace-bug (Stephanitis pyrioides): Rhododendron Lace Bug causes damage to leaves, causing them to roll downwards. Lace wings have been bothering rhododendrons for a long time, but in the past, they were a fairly easy pest to deal with. Pieris lacebug originates from Japan, it was first detected in Britain near Windsor in 1998. The bug is normally no more than a few millimetres long with dark colourings. Rhododendron Lace Bug, Stephanitis rhododendri. The rhododendron or azalea lace bug is a pest that gardeners in the south face nearly every year. Eggs are laid in the midrib on the underside of leaves. There are lace-bug resistant varieties, that are usually labeled as suitable for planting in sunny locations. The damage first appears as a speckled chlorosis. By the end of the summer, gardeners find their azalea leaves covered with yellow speckles and the plants are … It is especially important to prevent damage on evergreens early in the season because foliage will retain unsightly lace bug injury and be less functional for more than a year. Eggs appear as black dots and nymphs look like tiny clear, yellow or black spiky things. The wings on the 1 ⁄ 8 inch long lace bug are almost transparent. This insect has multiple generations per year, so it is much more damaging and harder to manage. References We talk about a bug that has devastated the local rhodies and azaleas. Adult insects are whitish-tan and approximately 0.13 inch long with lacy-looking wings. Lace bugs are common pests of a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs. It is our opinion that the symptoms may appear to many as a drought related or nutritional and thus rarely is brought to plant clinics. They both have flat, overlapping wings which are mostly transparent with dark markings. Lace bug damage on evergreens is most common and severe on azalea, pyracantha, rhododendron and andromeda. It is somewhat larger than the azalea lace bug but causes similar problems. Figure 1. Lace bugs have been a pest in the eastern U.S. for many years, but it’s a relatively new insect pest to the Pacific Northwest. A typical adult lace bug found on ornamental plants is small (2-5 … This will dislodge nymphs, eggs and brush off adults. The stippled appearance on the leaves in the third photo would indicate lace bug or spider mites. MANAGEMENT. Lace bugs that are found in the genus Stephanitis attack broad-leaved evergreens (andromeda, rhododendron, azalea, and mountain laurel) … 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. Stephanitis rhododendri. The adults have highly ornamented wings and a hood-like structure covering the head. Lace Bug is not a death sentence for your plants. The nymphs are black, spiny and smaller than the adults. This lace bug overwinters in the egg stage on the plant. Datasheet. Lace bugs are small, inconspicuous, plant-feeding bugs. Lace bug feeding is not a serious threat to plant health or survival. Eggs hatch in late May or early June, although they have been noted as early as mid-April. Damage (Back to Top) Nymphs and adults cause damage by piercing and removing cell contents from leaf tissues. Azalea Lace Bug is very similar to Rhododendron Lace Bug, which has been here a long time. These lace bugs have black bodies about 3 ⁄ 8 inch long and grayish wings. Lace bugs can be controlled by frequent spraying. Natural Control of Lace Bugs. Dealing with lace bugs can be annoying but the good news is that with effective lace bug treatment, you can rid them of the garden. Most have a specific host preference, which aids in identification. Lace bugs – If the upper sides of leaves are speckled green and yellow, then lace bugs may be at work. Stephanitis rhododendri, the rhododendron lace bug, is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae.It is found in Africa, Australia, Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Stephanitis rhododendri (rhododendron lace bug) Index. Azalea lace bug adult with light and dark patterns on its wings. Prolonged high populations of lace bugs may cause premature drop of some leaves and a modest reduction in plant growth rate. Spider mites are not insects but are related to spiders. Lace bug: The rhododendron lace bug is sporadic, but where it occurs, it causes considerable unsightliness to the leaves of many rhododendron species. The rhododendron lace bug is a native species. One generation a year Damage on rhododendrons appears to be more severe than the damage reported from rhododendron lace bug (Stephanitis rhododendri). Fortunately, no matter what type of plant you have, you can use water, oil, chemicals, and even soil solutions to get rid of them. It is sometimes called the andromeda lacebug. In the absence of thrips, stippled, excrement-spotted rhododendron leaves signal a lace bug infestation. Three species are common shrub pests : the azalea lace bug, andromeda ( Pieris ) lace bug, and the rhododendron lace bug. Rhododendron lace-bug & Azalea lace-bug Are you noticing leaf stippling, with chlorotic (light-colored) patches or leaves with a burnt, silvery appearance on your rhododendrons and azaleas? It wasn’t until the summer of 2008 that this bug made its debut in Washington from whence it made its way into Oregon the next year. Rhododendron lace bug In New Jersey, rhododendron lace bug eggs first hatch in late April, with later generations in late May and June. In mild climates, evergreen rhododendrons may … This publication provides information and general management recommendations for the azalea caterpillar, azalea lace bug, azalea leafminer, rhododendron gall midge, azalea gall, cercospora leaf spot, mushroom root rot, ovulinia petal blight, wet root rots, and iron chlorosis. On avocado premature leaf drop may lead to sunburn of some fruit and a subsequent reduction in fruit yield. 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 you have a more advanced problem with lace bugs, there are some chemical control options. Sycamore Lace Bug. The most common lace bug pests in Ohio include the sycamore lace bug (Corythucha ciliata), hawthorn lace bug (C. cydoniae), hackberry lace bug (C. celtidis), oak lace bug … The rhododendron lace bug, Stephanitis rhododendri, is about 1 / 8 inch long with wide, net-like or lace-like wings. Control: Rhododendron lace bugs should be treated when they appear in early May. Adult rhododendron lace bug. The tiny lace bug does most of its damage in the spring and summer and tends to be most problematic on rhododendrons that have been planted in sunny locations. The rhododendron lace bug only has one generation per year, so only one treatment is necessary. The azalea lace bug and andromeda lace bug were both accidentally introduced from Japan. Lace Bugs. There are approximately 140 North American species of lace bugs. The leaves are normally mottled on the top surface, but seen to be brown on the underside. Pest description and damage Lace bugs are tiny true bugs which cause significant feeding damage to broadleaf evergreens including andromeda, laurel, pyracantha, and rhododendron. Unfortunately, in 2008 the azalea lace bug moved into Washington.