Lace Bugs
Lace Bugs are one of the major pests of Azaleas, Laurel, Rhodendron, Pieris Japonica, and Pyracantha. Damagae to plants starts to appear in mid to late June and continues through the Fall. Infestations are greater in hot dry summers and on plants grown in full sun.
The eggs are laid along the mid rib on the undersides of the leaf, where they overwinter. The young hatch out in May and begin to feed by sucking the sap from the leaves. The damage manifests itself as a mottled appearance on the upper side of the leaf, giving it a whitish silver or yellow spotty look. There will also be sticky black patches on the underside of the leaf. These patches are the excrement of the Lace Bug.
Control - Start a spray schedule with Sevin or Orthene, making sure to thoroughly cover the underside of the leaves. Organic controls are not very effective on this pest. The chances of encountering this pest are decreased by lessening plant stress by planting in partial sun and maintaining even moisture.
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