Phisherman wrote:

I need to treat my azaleas soon and I'm having difficulty finding the
product Cygon by Dragon. This product is a systemic insecticide and
very effective when used properly with the right timing. Can anyone
suggest an alternative systemic insecticide that is equally effective?
Contact sprays, unfortunately, have not been very effective in the
past. The lace bug is very destructive and tough. I live in east
Tennessee, near Knoxville.

Whitish specks on the upper surface of leaves and dark spots
varnish-like on the bottom are symptoms of rhododendron and azalea lace
bugs. They are more prevalent on certain varieties and on plants grown
in sunny areas. When damage first appears, it may be controlled by any
of a number of contact insecticides. I have used malthion with success.
Care must be taken to spray the lower surfaces of the leaves where the
lace bugs live.

--
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning/rhody.html
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Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning