Lace Bugs On Azaleas - Damaging Insects That Feed On Leaves

Lace bugs are small 1/4″ long insect with wings that damage plants. They are named after their flat lace-like wings. There are many different kinds of lace bugs but the ones we see the most in the DC Metro area are Azalea lace bugs, Stephanitis pyrioides. Our Arborists recommend that homeowners keep a close eye on their Azaleas since signs of Lace Bugs should start appearing in the next few weeks.

Azalea lace bugs are plant-sucking insects that belong to the Tingidae family. Insects in this family typically feed and live on the undersides of leaves. In particular Azalea lace bugs, pierce the leaves of a Azaleas and feed on the fluids from the plants’ photosynthetic tissues. Out of the 4 types of lace bugs that feed on plants in the heath family (azaleas, rhododendrons, etc.), this type is the most damaging.

Azalea lace bugs have multiple generations in a year, meaning that this insect won’t go away in a few weeks; instead, it will wreak havoc on your Azaleas from spring into the beginning of fall. But the infestation doesn’t stop when the cold weather comes. The lace bug eggs overwinter in the leaves of Azaleas so that they can hatch and come back next spring to do more damage. This damage includes the symptoms listed below.

The symptoms of Azalea Lace Bugs are:

Light yellow stippling on surface of leaves
Leaves looking white/yellowish gray (usually seen in highly infested azaleas)
Yellowing of leaves
Black specks on leaves
Honeydew (what looks like tree sap on cars/walkways)
Black sooty mold
Leaf drop
Dieback of twigs and branches

Reduced flowering (a sign you had an infestation last year and most likely have it again.)

If you think your Azaleas are infested with lace bugs, don’t worry, there are steps your Arborist can take to eradicate lace bugs on your property.

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.

Certified Arborists use a couple different tactics to eliminate lace bugs, including horticultural oils, cultural control, insecticides, and the most interesting and organic option, beneficial insects. The Arborist will be able to prescribe the best treatment for your property and goals.

Beneficial Insects:

Beneficial insects are natural predators of the pests that harm trees and shrubs. These beneficial insects typically feed on the pests and keep their population low so that the pests do not harm your trees and shrubs. We offer beneficial Insect programs to stimulate the beneficials on your property which naturally protect your trees and shrubs. The release of the beneficial insects can also be a fun family event for bug-loving kids.

Beneficial insects for Lace Bugs include:

Beware Of DIY “Treatments”: Broad spectrum insecticides that you find at home improvement stores or online actually kill these natural predators. Using this type of “treatment” is a temporary solution and the lace bugs will come back with a vengeance because their natural predators were killed off. And it could lead to you developing a spider mite problem as well. Instead, trust a Certified Arborist to develop the correct treatment for your property that takes into account beneficial insects.

Don’t let your Azaleas be ugly and unhealthy all spring and summer. If you have Azaleas and think you have a problem with lace bugs schedule an appointment with our Arborists online or by calling 703.573.3029

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March 29, 2022.

Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.

Dennis Bruns

March 8, 2022.

We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.

Annette Iannucci

February 23, 2022.

We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.

Susan Crawford

January 26, 2022.

RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.

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January 20, 2022.

Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.

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January 3, 2022.

Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.

Jerry Haggin

December 16, 2021.

Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.

Mike Iger

David Roberts

December 15, 2021.

We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.

Travis Larson

December 10, 2021.

RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.

The symptoms of Azalea Lace Bugs are:

Treatments:

Beneficial Insects:

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