Pests
Lace bugs
Small, flat insects with lace-like wings.
Lace bugs are sap-feeding insects, 2 to 5 mm (about 0.08 to 0.2 in) long, that feed under leaves. Sucking out plant cell contents causes grayish or yellowish discoloration on the upper leaf surface, resembling mite feeding damage. An uncontrolled infestation weakens the plant by reducing photosynthesis and can cause premature leaf drop.
Signs to check
- Discolored foliage covered in tiny yellow or white dots on the upper surface.
- Small, flat insects, 2 to 5 mm (about 0.08 to 0.2 in) long, with transparent, veined wings, sitting under leaves.
- Clusters of shiny black droppings under leaves that do not rub off.
- Insects grouped mainly along veins on leaf undersides.
What you may notice
- General leaf yellowing · Pale yellow discoloration spreads through the foliage, often affecting the oldest leaves first.
- Yellow stippling and fine webbing · Tiny yellow or white dots cover leaves, giving them a speckled appearance, often accompanied by fine webs.
What to do now
Get rid of lace bugs
- Immediately isolate the infested plant to keep lace bugs from spreading to other plants.
- Thoroughly shower the foliage with a strong stream of water, focusing on leaf undersides, to dislodge as many adults and immature insects as possible.
- Prepare a black soap solution. Dilute 75 mL (about 5 US tbsp) of liquid black soap in 1 liter (about 1.06 US qt) of lukewarm water.
- Spray the solution generously over the entire plant, thoroughly covering the underside of every leaf. Black soap works by contact, suffocating the insects.
- Repeat this treatment every 4 to 7 days for at least 3 weeks. This targets newly hatched immature insects and completely breaks the reproductive cycle.
Prevention
- Carefully inspect the underside of every new plant's leaves before bringing it into your home.
- Check plants once a week for early signs of infestation.
- Regularly wipe dust off leaves with a damp cloth; this also disturbs any pests.