SHREVEPORT, La. – As temperatures rise across the ArkLaTex, gardeners may begin noticing signs of damage on their azaleas caused by one of the shrub’s most common pests — azalea lace bugs.
Identifying and Treating Azalea Lace Bugs
During this week’s KTBS Garden Club segment, gardening expert Jennifer McGimsey from Akin’s Nursery shared tips for identifying and treating the insects before they cause significant damage to plants.
According to McGimsey, the first sign of an infestation is often visible on the upper side of azalea leaves, which may appear pale, discolored, or bleached. A closer look underneath the leaves can reveal dark, tar-like spots left behind by the insects.
McGimsey advises gardeners to thoroughly spray the undersides of leaves where the insects are most commonly found, using a natural insecticide during the cooler morning hours to avoid damaging plants in the heat of the day.
Another effective treatment is a systemic insecticide, which is absorbed into the plant’s tissues and works from the inside out. Because the product is taken up by the plant, it does not require direct contact with every insect and typically remains effective longer than topical treatments that can wash away in rain.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
