From my leaves, I feel it before I see it. A subtle stippling begins, tiny yellow or white speckles where a pest has pierced my leaf cells and sucked out the chlorophyll, my lifeblood. This is the first sign. As the feeding continues, the beautiful green of my foliage becomes a sickly, mottled pale yellow. If you look at my underside, you might see their calling cards: shiny, dark, varnish-like excrement spots and the cast-off skins of the nymphs, which look like tiny, spiny specks. The adults themselves are small, with lacy, semi-transparent wings and a hood-like structure over their heads, but they are adept at hiding and quickly scurrying to the underside of my leaves when disturbed. A severe infestation leaves me weak, stunted, and utterly drained of my vitality.
These lace bugs are not arbitrary in their attack. They are drawn to me, your azalea, when I am under stress. The primary attractant is sun exposure. I am a woodland plant by nature; when planted in full, hot sun, I become heat-stressed and more susceptible to infestation. A lack of water during dry spells further weakens my defenses, making my sap easier to access and my tissues less resilient. Dense plantings that restrict air flow create a humid, sheltered microclimate that these pests find ideal. Essentially, any condition that deviates from my preferred cool, moist, partially shaded environment makes me an easier and more desirable target for their assault.
Your first line of defense is to correct the conditions that made me vulnerable. If possible, provide me with some afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Ensure my roots are consistently moist with a deep watering during dry periods, but never soggy, as I despise wet feet. A layer of organic mulch over my root zone will help conserve that precious moisture and keep my roots cool. For a light infestation, a strong spray of water from a garden hose directed at the undersides of my leaves can dislodge the eggs, nymphs, and adults. This must be repeated every few days to be effective. Keeping me healthy and vigorous is the best way to help me resist and recover from their damage.
When the infestation is severe and my very survival is at stake, more direct intervention may be necessary. I welcome the help of natural predators like lady beetles, lacewing larvae, and spiders. You can encourage these beneficial insects by planting a diverse garden. For targeted control, insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are effective options as they suffocate the pests without leaving a long-lasting toxic residue; thorough coverage of the leaf undersides is absolutely critical. As a last resort, systemic insecticides can be applied to the soil for me to take up into my vascular system. This makes my sap toxic to the piercing-sucking bugs. This is a powerful solution and should be used judiciously to protect the pollinators and beneficial insects that I rely on.
