Lace Wings on Azalea

[Henryparson]

First post. I did some searching under Lace Wings. I’ve applied multiple doses of Neem Oil and these little buggers won’t leave. Best treatment?

 

[sorce]

Lacewing are good.

The aphids their babies are eating are not.

Sorce

 

[AZbonsai]

Why do you want to get rid of them?

Green Lacewing | Biological Pest Control for Aphids

Green Lacewing are an exceptional addition to any IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program. Cost effective and a great generalist, the adults are also excellent pollinators. Green Lacewing larvae are voracious predators of the eggs and immature stages of many soft bodied insect pests, including...

www.arbico-organics.com

 

[Henryparson]

Thanks. Didn’t know they were good.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Lacewing are good.

The aphids their babies are eating are not.

Sorce

No, lace wings are bad for azaleas. They hide on the bottom of leaves and suck them dry, so the tops look dusty and gray. They like sunny, hot, dry conditions. Move your tree to some shade, mist it regularly, and use an insecticide containing imidacloprid. Spray the tree from the back and undersides to ensure you’re killing them. They’re tough to get rid of.

 

[Henryparson]

No, lace wings are bad for azaleas. They hide on the bottom of leaves and suck them dry, so the tops look dusty and gray. They like sunny, hot, dry conditions. Move your tree to some shade, mist it regularly, and use an insecticide containing imidacloprid. Spray the tree from the back and undersides to ensure you’re killing them. They’re tough to get rid of.

Thanks for this. I read this on line in an article from oregonstate U. This is my first Azalea project and new to Bonsai. So I’m a bit confused by the different reports. I clearly saw Lace Wings and diminished health. I examined for aphids but never located.

 

[Stan Kengai]

There are two different insects commonly know as lace wings: the green lacewing (good) and the azalea lace wing (bad).

I have seen some improvement in azalea lace wing control using imidachlorprid (sp?) Systemic.

 

[Henryparson]

On closer inspection this little devil is more brown with a darker pattern on Wings. No green.

 

[Shibui]

Over here the azalea pest is known as lace bug to differentiate from lacewings which are lovely little predators.
Imacloprid works really well to get rid of lace bug on azaleas but don't spray it while the azaleas are flowering because bees pick up the chemical from the flowers and kill the whole hive.
I need to use some treatment every year as new lace bugs turn up from other gardens and start breeding when they find unoccupied plants at my place.

 

[just.wing.it]

On closer inspection this little devil is more brown with a darker pattern on Wings. No green.

Yep.
Get that Neem up under the leaves, real good.
Make sure the ones you see aren't already dead from your last application.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Neem is an antifeedant. Causes target insects to stop feeding. It is not a quick kill and in my view is not good when pest population is high. Use a pesticide designed for quick kill. Imidaproclid, pyrethrins with adjuvants, you can even go old school, organophosphate, like malathion.

Key is read, read labels, make sure the target pest is listed, then follow label directions. Don't use a more dilute solution, don't use a more concentrated solution. Follow label exactly. Repeat as label directs.

Neem is best for low and moderate level infestations.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Pyrethrins might kill your feline companion though, if you have one.
They also turned my Russian Rat snake into a rattle snake by giving it epilepsy.

Yet the label says 'safe for home use and safe for pets'.
But the scientists disagree, it seems to cause some allergies and asthmatic stuff.

It does make a good insecticide though!