There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).

karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Check the undersides of the leaves for evidence of Lacebug poop... will
look
like black pepper.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
A few of my rhododendrons' leaves are showing a loss of color this
winter.
They look almost white with green speckling. Anyone know what this is
and
what I can do for it?

Thanks.

Karen
portland, or

There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).

karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Check the undersides of the leaves for evidence of Lacebug poop... will
look
like black pepper.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
A few of my rhododendrons' leaves are showing a loss of color this
winter.
They look almost white with green speckling. Anyone know what this is
and
what I can do for it?

Thanks.

Karen
portland, or

As Lacebug damage increases, subsequent opportunistic diseases can also take
hold... perhaps you have a multi-front attack on your rhodies!

At this time of year (at least in all but the warmer parts of the US)
Lacebugs won't be present, but their eggs will be. As the weather warms,
consider using a horticultural oil like Sunspray Ultrafine in order to
smother the eggs.

Lacebugs set up shop usually in weakened rhodies that are either getting too
much sun, are too dryish, not getting enough nitrogen/chelated iron, or some
combination therein.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just
too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be
hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).

karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Check the undersides of the leaves for evidence of Lacebug poop... will
look
like black pepper.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
A few of my rhododendrons' leaves are showing a loss of color this
winter.
They look almost white with green speckling. Anyone know what this is
and
what I can do for it?

Thanks.

Karen
portland, or

"Anonny Moose" wrote:

There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).
A few rhododendron leaves are showing a loss of color this winter.
They look white with green speckling. Anyone know what this is and
what I can do for it?

Could be either thrips or lace bugs.

Thrips are characterized by a silvery white discoloration on the leaf's
upper surface and silvery on the bottom with small black frass specks.
The damage is similar to that from lace bugs. Thrips are a problem in
warm and dry climates like California and New Zealand. Most of the
standard insecticides and insecticidal soaps can be used. Control for
thrips whether an insecticide or insecticidal soap is a contact control
and must be applied on the adults. This is most likely done in May when
they are visible. Locally, biological controls may also be available. It
is best to remove infected flowers.

Whitish specks on the upper surface of leaves and dark spots
varnish-like on the bottom are symptoms of rhododendron 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. Care must be taken to spray the lower
surfaces of the leaves where the lace bugs live.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhodybooks.html
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

As Lacebug damage increases, subsequent opportunistic diseases can also take
hold... perhaps you have a multi-front attack on your rhodies!

At this time of year (at least in all but the warmer parts of the US)
Lacebugs won't be present, but their eggs will be. As the weather warms,
consider using a horticultural oil like Sunspray Ultrafine in order to
smother the eggs.

Lacebugs set up shop usually in weakened rhodies that are either getting too
much sun, are too dryish, not getting enough nitrogen/chelated iron, or some
combination therein.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just
too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be
hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).

karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Check the undersides of the leaves for evidence of Lacebug poop... will
look
like black pepper.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
A few of my rhododendrons' leaves are showing a loss of color this
winter.
They look almost white with green speckling. Anyone know what this is
and
what I can do for it?

Thanks.

Karen
portland, or

"Anonny Moose" wrote:

There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).
A few rhododendron leaves are showing a loss of color this winter.
They look white with green speckling. Anyone know what this is and
what I can do for it?

Could be either thrips or lace bugs.

Thrips are characterized by a silvery white discoloration on the leaf's
upper surface and silvery on the bottom with small black frass specks.
The damage is similar to that from lace bugs. Thrips are a problem in
warm and dry climates like California and New Zealand. Most of the
standard insecticides and insecticidal soaps can be used. Control for
thrips whether an insecticide or insecticidal soap is a contact control
and must be applied on the adults. This is most likely done in May when
they are visible. Locally, biological controls may also be available. It
is best to remove infected flowers.

Whitish specks on the upper surface of leaves and dark spots
varnish-like on the bottom are symptoms of rhododendron 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. Care must be taken to spray the lower
surfaces of the leaves where the lace bugs live.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhodybooks.html
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

Thanks Dave, and everyone. I will look for that oil and consider replanting
in shadier locations.

Karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
As Lacebug damage increases, subsequent opportunistic diseases can also
take
hold... perhaps you have a multi-front attack on your rhodies!

At this time of year (at least in all but the warmer parts of the US)
Lacebugs won't be present, but their eggs will be. As the weather warms,
consider using a horticultural oil like Sunspray Ultrafine in order to
smother the eggs.

Lacebugs set up shop usually in weakened rhodies that are either getting
too
much sun, are too dryish, not getting enough nitrogen/chelated iron, or
some
combination therein.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just
too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be
hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).

karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Check the undersides of the leaves for evidence of Lacebug poop...
will
look
like black pepper.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
A few of my rhododendrons' leaves are showing a loss of color this
winter.
They look almost white with green speckling. Anyone know what this
is
and
what I can do for it?

Thanks.

Karen
portland, or

Thanks Dave, and everyone. I will look for that oil and consider replanting
in shadier locations.

Karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
As Lacebug damage increases, subsequent opportunistic diseases can also
take
hold... perhaps you have a multi-front attack on your rhodies!

At this time of year (at least in all but the warmer parts of the US)
Lacebugs won't be present, but their eggs will be. As the weather warms,
consider using a horticultural oil like Sunspray Ultrafine in order to
smother the eggs.

Lacebugs set up shop usually in weakened rhodies that are either getting
too
much sun, are too dryish, not getting enough nitrogen/chelated iron, or
some
combination therein.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
There is dark speckling on the underside of the leaves but it looks more
like physiological leaf spot - or maybe both types of spotting. I'm just
too
inexperienced to tell the difference. I did find a couple of tiny
light-colored insects on the underside of each leaf I brought in for
inspection that might well be lacebugs (if they are tiny enough to be
hardly
able to make out with a 10X loupe).

karen

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Check the undersides of the leaves for evidence of Lacebug poop...
will
look
like black pepper.

Dave

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
A few of my rhododendrons' leaves are showing a loss of color this
winter.
They look almost white with green speckling. Anyone know what this
is
and
what I can do for it?

Thanks.

Karen
portland, or