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University of Illinois Extension serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties

Main Office (McLean County)
402 North Hershey Road
Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone: 309-663-8306
FAX: 309-663-8270
Email:uie-lmw@illinois.edu
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm

Branch Office (Livingston County)
1412 S Locust
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: 815-842-1776
FAX: 815-842-6547
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

Branch Office (McLean County)
UNITY Community Center
632 Orlando Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
Phone: 309-862-4041
FAX: 309-663-8270
Hours: Monday - Friday 12 noon - 7 pm

Branch Office (Woodford County)
109 East Eureka Avenue
Eureka, IL 61530
Phone: 309-467-3789
FAX: 309-467-6034
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

News Release

Lace Bugs on Sunflowers

August 13, 2012

August 13, 2012

News source: Kelly Allsup, 309-663-8306, kallsup@illinois.edu

News writer: Susan Jongeneel, 217-333-3291, sjongene@illinois.edu

Lace bugs on sunflowers

URBANA – "It was the frass, or insect excrement, on a sunflower leaf that caused me to stop and take a closer look," said University of Illinois Extension educator Kelly Allsup. "It was lined along the veins of the leaf and looked like black tar. The leaf was covered in stippling, a sign of feeding injury, and necrotic spots. Then the culprits moved when I poked at them."

Allsup was looking at chrysanthemum lace bugs (Corythuca marmorata). They are approximately one-fourth of an inch long and are brown-gray or tan in color. Their delicate wings are held flat and have markings that make them look like a miniature cut square of lace.

Chrysanthemum lace bugs feed on asters, sunflowers, and goldenrods, injuring the plant by their piercing and sucking. The excrement is strategically placed along the vein and secures the eggs to the leaf.

They prefer the underside of the leaf but will also colonize the upper side when the population is high. Nymphs are small and shiny brown, and they suck sap. Young nymphs congregate on the underside of the leaves. In dry weather, high populations can cause particularly severe damage.

Hover-fly larvae, lady beetles, and lace-wing larvae will prey on these garden pests. Daily water sprays can be highly effective at reducing the population. U of I Extension suggests treating plants with horticulture oil, insecticidal soap, neem oil, or imidacloprid.

"If you have chrysanthemum lace bugs this year, in early spring look out for stippling when plants are young and population is low," said Allsup. A gardener's weekly notes can be a valuable management tool when dealing with garden pests in the next season.

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University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of our programs, please contact your local county Extension Office.

Susan Jongeneel

ACES News and Public Affairs

Mumford 218B

1301 W Gregory

Urbana, IL 61801

217 333 3291

sjongene@illinois.edu

Local Contact: Kelly Allsup, Extension Educator, Horticulture, kallsup@illinois.edu