Lace bugs often seem like the epitome of tranquility, reminiscent of gentle grandmothers tending to a lush garden. They should be content with basking on broad leaves, fostering growth, and creating a cozy atmosphere. However, these sap-sucking insects are more akin to an overbearing relative who crashes at your place and proceeds to invite their entire extended family to feast on your garden’s bounty.
Once lace bugs establish themselves in your yard, they’re not interested in departing anytime soon. They’ll continue to feed and multiply, leaving you with a garden that’s more ravaged than revitalized.
Identification
Tiny lace bugs, belonging to the Tingidae family, are notorious for their voracious appetite and penchant for devouring plant sap from leaves. Similar to thrips and mites, these minuscule creatures feed by sucking up sap, leaving behind a desiccated leaf skeleton. With over a hundred species found in North America alone, each lace bug variant is specific to its host plant, often spending nearly their entire life cycle on a single plant or even a solitary leaf.
For instance, Leptodictya tabida feeds on sugarcane, while Stephanitis pyrioides targets azaleas; Corythucha cydoniae makes hawthorn its meal of choice, and Stephanitis takeyai focuses on Japanese andromeda. Lace bugs rarely exceed 1/8-inch in length, making them challenging to detect. They typically inhabit the underside of leaves on trees and shrubs, feeding extensively on these areas.
Although lace bug damage is unlikely to be fatal, it can significantly impair a smaller plant’s appearance as long as these pests remain present.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Despite their superficial similarities, lace bugs that infest different plant species exhibit distinct differences in their dietary preferences. While it may seem counterintuitive, a lace bug that thrives on hawthorn plants would struggle to survive on azaleas, and conversely, an ornamental grass-eating lace bug wouldn’t be able to adapt its feeding habits to hackberry plants without significant adjustments.
Nymphs
Young lace bugs begin life as dark-colored, wingless creatures that are easily overlooked unless you’re specifically searching for them. These tiny beings have flat, elongated bodies covered in minute spikes that protrude in all directions, making them appear almost like small, irregularly-shaped stones. As they mature, their bodies gradually grow longer and more slender, eventually developing into the characteristic adult lace bug form.
The life cycle of these bugs begins when eggs are laid on the underside of host plant leaves. The nymphs that emerge from these eggs are voracious eaters, feeding on the leaf material and growing steadily over a period of 3-4 weeks. As they mature, the nymphs undergo a series of molts, shedding their skin in the process. This discarded skin can often be seen clinging to the host plant leaves, resembling delicate, brittle ash.
Adults
The lace bug’s adult stage is marked by the emergence of wings after five instars of growth. Adult lace bugs are prolific breeders, quickly mating and laying eggs on the underside of attractive leaves. The entire life cycle of these pests takes approximately one month to complete, depending on factors such as growing season length. This can result in 2-4 generations of lace bug adults within a single year.
Like their nymph counterparts, adult lace bugs feed on host plant leaves, often causing the leaf to wither away entirely due to their voracious appetite. As the final generation before winter approaches, adults will seek shelter in bark crevices or under leaf piles, while those that inhabit evergreen environments may spend the winter months feeding on the evergreen’s foliage.
Come springtime, these hidden lace bugs re-emerge to feast on newly unfurled leaves, lay eggs, and kickstart a new cycle of life, perpetuating their impact on host plants.
Recognizing Lace Bug Damage
Lace bugs are notorious for their subtle yet revealing signs of infestation. When they’re feeding on your plants, a closer inspection can reveal the extent of the damage. Start by examining the upper side of the leaf, where you’ll notice yellow or white mottled spots. This peculiar pattern is a result of the lace bugs siphoning the sap from underneath the leaf, leaving behind dry patches on the surface. However, it’s what lies beneath that really tells the tale.
Flip the leaf over and you’ll find a trail of shed skins and discarded egg scabs, not to mention the pesky insects themselves. These telltale signs are unmistakable evidence of lace bug activity, making it crucial to detect them early on to prevent further damage.
What Should I Do about Lace Bugs?
When lace bugs become a nuisance in your garden, you’re presented with a multitude of solutions. While they pose more of a hindrance than a threat, the level of effort you dedicate to addressing the issue is entirely up to you. Your response can range from gentle deterrence to more decisive action.
Ignore Them
While lace bugs may not be a major threat to the health of your plants, they can still cause some visual disturbance. These insects are host-specific, meaning they’ll only target certain species like azaleas and won’t spread throughout the entire garden. As such, their impact is generally limited to the specific plant infestation. Many gardeners take a laissez-faire approach to lace bugs, viewing them as a minor nuisance that’s not worth expending too much effort on.
Others, however, may be more motivated to take action due to the unsightly damage these pests can cause. Ultimately, whether or not to prioritize controlling lace bug populations is a matter of personal preference and gardening priorities.
Water Spray
To effectively eradicate lace bug nymphs, start by targeting them on the undersides of leaves where they reside without wings. A high-pressure hose can be used to dislodge these nymphs from their hiding spots by spraying water directly onto the leaf surfaces. Once knocked to the ground, the nymphs will struggle to regain flight and return to their original plants, as flying is essential for their survival.
To maintain a lace bug-free environment, repeat this process once a week on affected plants, ensuring consistent control over the nymph population.
Neem Oil & Insecticidal Soap
Combine neem oil with insecticidal soap to create a potent solution for controlling lace bug infestations. Simply add a few drops of neem oil to a batch of insecticidal soap and spray the underside of leaves on a weekly basis. This approach can effectively eliminate both adult and nymph lace bugs. Insecticidal soap is an excellent addition to your arsenal when combating lace bugs, especially if you’re managing infestations on flowering plants.
However, it’s crucial to exercise caution while spraying neem-insecticidal soap when the plant is in flower. Avoid treating during this time to prevent damage to pollinators and other beneficial insects that are also vulnerable to harm.
Predator Insects
When it comes to tackling lace bug infestations, nature has a clever solution – leveraging the appetite of their natural predators. Species such as assassin bugs, lacewings, jumping spiders, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps have evolved to prey on these invasive insects. By introducing these beneficial organisms into your garden, you can create a more balanced ecosystem that naturally controls pest populations.
However, it’s essential to exercise caution when introducing non-native species, as they may not adapt seamlessly to their new environment.
Organic Pesticides
Lace bugs typically don’t require heavy-duty pesticides to control their population. Instead, low-impact methods are often sufficient to manage an infestation. However, if your lace bug problem has spiraled out of control, organic pesticides can be a more gentle solution. For instance, you can use a pyrethrin-based spray, such as Bonide’s offering, on the underside of leaves or opt for horticultural oils available in various forms.
To ensure that all life stages of the pest are eliminated, these treatments need to be reapplied every two weeks.
Conventional Pesticides
In the unlikely event that you need to use powerful chemical pesticides to control lace bug infestations, it’s crucial to exercise caution to avoid harming beneficial insects in your garden. Chemical pesticides designed to kill lace bugs can also decimate bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and other pollinators, which are essential for a thriving garden.
When using these chemicals, apply them with precision, targeting the underside of leaves where lace bugs congregate, only when plants and their neighbors are not in bloom. Aim for the minimum application necessary to control the infestation, then switch to more gentle methods once the problem is under control. Cyfluthrin and permethrin have been shown to be effective against lace bugs, but it’s essential to use them with care, especially at night to minimize harm to pollinators, kids, and pets.
Furthermore, when using chemical pesticides, take extra precautions around neighborhood pets, as permethrin can be highly toxic to cats and certain bird species, while cyfluthrin is extremely toxic to bees but less hazardous to household pets. Ultimately, lace bugs often respond well to less aggressive control methods, making it important to weigh the risks and consider alternative approaches.
