Lace Bugs

Participants in the Diagnostic Walkabouts held as part of the Ohio Chapter ISA Field Day last week in Heritage Park, Westerville, OH, observed high populations of Buckeye Lace Bugs (Corythucha aesculi) feeding on their namesake host (Aesculus sp.). Their characteristic “leaf stippling” damage was becoming evident.

 

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Lace bugs (order Hemiptera; family Tingidae) were a hot topic during this week’s BYGL Zoom Inservice. Although the bugs have been with us in one form or another for the entire season, their accumulated leaf damage is now very evident.

This is the time of the season when the characteristic chlorotic leaf spot damage (= stippling) from Lace Bugs (order Hemiptera; family Tingidae) that feed on deciduous woody ornamentals as well as a few herbaceous perennials becomes very evident. These small plant-sucking insects are so named because of the lace-like pattern of the veins and membranes in their wings which are held flat over their body.

Lace bugs (order Hemiptera; family Tingidae) are so-named because of the lace-like pattern of the veins and membranes in their wings which are held flat over their body. Most lace bug species found in Ohio live on the lower leaf surface of their host plants.

Lace bugs (order Hemiptera; family Tingidae) are so-named because of the lace-like pattern of veins and membranes in their wings. Most lace bug species found trees in Ohio live on the lower leaf surface.

I've long admired silver linden with its dark green leaves accentuated by silver undersides. This tough tree is able to handle many of the urban slings and arrows that send less hardy trees to wood chippers. However, this eastern European native seems to be having a growing challenge with our native basswood lace bugs.

Lace bugs do well during hot weather and they are certainly doing very well. I'm finding population densities and levels of damage that are normally seen in July. I posted a report on hawthorn lace bugs this past Saturday; this report highlights a few others.

The characteristic leaf "stippling" symptoms produced by Hawthorn Lace Bugs is now very noticeable in southwest Ohio. Lace bugs are tiny insects with the adults measuring no more than 3/16" long. They are so-named because of the lace-like pattern of veins and membranes in their wings.

Extensioneers throughout Ohio have reported high lace bug populations this season.  It is speculated these small sucking insects may have benefited from hot, dry conditions that may be coming to an end; for now.  The most obvious lace bugs include:  basswood lace bug (Gargaphia tiliae), hawthorn lace bug (Corythucha cydoniae), oak lace bug (C. arcuata), and sycamore lace bug (C. incurvata).

 

These lace bug species live on the undersides of leaves where they use their piercing/sucking mouth parts to suck juices from their host plants.  As...