Azalea Lace Bug
Episode: #2 17/03/07
Presenter: Phil Dudman
There is nothing quite like the colour of an Azalea bush in full bloom. But have you ever noticed that when the show is over, the foliage can take on an unhealthy motley look?
That is exactly what has been happening in Tanya’s garden in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. She has written in to ask what causes this unsightliness and how can you keep azaleas looking green and healthy all year round.
Well Tanya, it is caused by an insect pest known as Azalea Lace Bug. They are a sap-sucking bug, which means they feed by attaching themselves to the leaves and removing the content of the cells, including the chlorophyll, and that is why they loose that lovely green colour.
When you look closer, you can see the tiny lace bugs gathering on the undersides of the new leaves, and the little black sticky spots you will see, are droppings from the bug.
You need to spray to control this pest, but if you prefer not to and you can put up with the leaf damage, that is okay, because most azaleas tend to cope and will still flower. But if you really want your azaleas to perform at their best, then look at setting up an ongoing control strategy.
Just keep in mind that spraying will not heal any existing damage. The thing to do is to spray with Yates Confidor whenever the new growth appears, and that will protect that new growth from damage. The way it works is that Confidor has a systemic action, which means it is absorbed and spread throughout the plant via its vascular system, so when sap-sucking insects like lace bugs come along to attack these new leaves they ingest it.
When you use Confidor follow the directions closely, wear some eye protection, gloves and cover your arms with long sleeves. To be most effective give the leaves a good coating on both the upper and undersides of the leaves.
Here at the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens in Brisbane, the gardeners spray 4 times a year, in the first week of September, December, February and April. If you do that you will give the plants 12 months of protection… and when you combine that with regular feeding, your azaleas will always look green and healthy.
If you have got any garden questions, you can have them answered personally by one of the Gurus team when you join our garden club. Not only that you also receive all sorts of other gardening goodies and benefits and become eligible for lots of special offers too. Join this month, and you could win yourself one of 50 pairs of these super snug Ironclad Gardening Gloves. Just go to the Garden Gurus website to find out more.
Look closer, you can see the tiny lace bugs gathering on the undersides of the new leaves… and those little black sticky spots you see there are droppings.
Confidor Hose on:
Presenter: Phil Dudman
There is nothing quite like the colour of an Azalea bush in full bloom. But have you ever noticed that when the show is over, the foliage can take on an unhealthy motley look?
That is exactly what has been happening in Tanya’s garden in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. She has written in to ask what causes this unsightliness and how can you keep azaleas looking green and healthy all year round.
Well Tanya, it is caused by an insect pest known as Azalea Lace Bug. They are a sap-sucking bug, which means they feed by attaching themselves to the leaves and removing the content of the cells, including the chlorophyll, and that is why they loose that lovely green colour.
When you look closer, you can see the tiny lace bugs gathering on the undersides of the new leaves, and the little black sticky spots you will see, are droppings from the bug.
You need to spray to control this pest, but if you prefer not to and you can put up with the leaf damage, that is okay, because most azaleas tend to cope and will still flower. But if you really want your azaleas to perform at their best, then look at setting up an ongoing control strategy.
Just keep in mind that spraying will not heal any existing damage. The thing to do is to spray with Yates Confidor whenever the new growth appears, and that will protect that new growth from damage. The way it works is that Confidor has a systemic action, which means it is absorbed and spread throughout the plant via its vascular system, so when sap-sucking insects like lace bugs come along to attack these new leaves they ingest it.
When you use Confidor follow the directions closely, wear some eye protection, gloves and cover your arms with long sleeves. To be most effective give the leaves a good coating on both the upper and undersides of the leaves.
Here at the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens in Brisbane, the gardeners spray 4 times a year, in the first week of September, December, February and April. If you do that you will give the plants 12 months of protection… and when you combine that with regular feeding, your azaleas will always look green and healthy.
If you have got any garden questions, you can have them answered personally by one of the Gurus team when you join our garden club. Not only that you also receive all sorts of other gardening goodies and benefits and become eligible for lots of special offers too. Join this month, and you could win yourself one of 50 pairs of these super snug Ironclad Gardening Gloves. Just go to the Garden Gurus website to find out more.
Look closer, you can see the tiny lace bugs gathering on the undersides of the new leaves… and those little black sticky spots you see there are droppings.
Confidor Hose on:
- For control of white curl grub and billbug larvae in lawns
- When applied between mid spring and mid summer, controls lawn pests before they are able to do major damage to the lawn.
- Can be used on all lawn types.
- Concentrated formula - 500ml treats 150m2.
- Low toxic, water based formula.
AS SEEN ON 
