Ag Line: Azalea Lacebug
By Wade Parker County Extension Coordinator

Azalea Lacebug

Many times during the summer I get several calls from homeowners concerned about the fate of their azaleas. Azaleas are beautiful plants in the spring, but to achieve their full potential they must be taken care of.

The most common calls concerning azaleas are either iron deficiency or azalea lacebug problems. The iron problem can be corrected with supplemental applications of fertilizer or liquid iron. On the other hand, the azalea lacebug is a pest gardeners in the south face every year if not several times during the year. As azaleas begin to bloom, the insect begins its lifecycle and by the end of the summer gardeners find their azalea leaves covered with yellow or white spots. Once the plants are infested, the plants immediately become stressed. Azalea lacebugs may not kill a plant per se, but continued infestation will lead to reduce vigor and flowering the next year.

As lacebugs damage azaleas, yellow spots form on the leaves which are caused by the insects feeding with their sucking mouthparts. Feeding affects the appearance of foliage on both deciduous and evergreen azaleas. If you look real close on the underside of the leaves, you will be able to see the tiny nymphs. Severe infestations can cause leaves to turn brown and impact overall plant health and vigor!

The adults are between 3 mm long and 1.5 mm wide and dark in color. The insects have a hoodlike covering on the head and netlike, lacy, off-white wings with brownish-black markings that may be seen with a hand lens. The insect resembles a fly that has lacy wings, thus the name lacebug. Eggs may be visible with the use of a hand lens and appear as smooth, white football shaped objects that are deposited on the underside of leaves. These deposits are usually found along the central leaf vein and are covered with blackish, varnish-like fecal spots that are a diagnostic sign.Controlling this insect is simple. Growers should begin scouting for the eggs in mid- March. Usually, a single well timed spray is sufficient to prevent serious aesthetic injury. Applications should be timed to coincide with the first signs of the nymphal hatch stage that normally occurs in March to mid-April. Chemical controls include acephate (Orthene), Bayer Advanced Insect Spray (imidacloprid), oils, and soaps. Remember to read the label carefully and follow all instructions when using pesticides.

Lacebugs are not hard insects to control. The key to management is getting the insecticide applied on time! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

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