Lace Bug Damage and Treatment for Omaha Trees
Lace bugs feed on the underside of leaves all summer long, leaving behind stippled, browning foliage that can defoliate a heavily infested tree.
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Where lace bugs are found
Most lace bugs are found on elm, hackberry, oak, sycamore, basswood, and other hardwood trees common throughout the Omaha area. Adults are flat, 5 to 6 mm long, and dark-colored with highly sculptured, lace-like white wings that give the pest its name.
Lace bug life cycle
There are usually two overlapping generations of lace bugs per year, which means all life stages, from eggs to adults, can be found on the lower surface of leaves throughout the summer. Lace bugs overwinter in protected places on the tree, ready to begin feeding again as new growth emerges in spring.
Signs of lace bug damage
Infested leaves show brown or yellow stippling from feeding punctures, along with tar-like defecation spots on the leaf underside. Because severely damaged leaves turn brown and droop prematurely, heavily infested trees may be defoliated, especially during dry weather when the tree is already under stress.
