My azaleas and sycamore leaves have a bleached-out appearance and the undersides of the leaves are covered with tiny, shiny, black tar-like spots. What causes this?
Both azaleas and sycamore are susceptible to an insect called lace bug. Damage results from the insect sucking out cell sap, resulting in mottling of leaves. The black tar spots are actually insect excrement. Control on sycamore may be impractical if the trees are large. If no action is taken, the trees will defoliate early. No permanent damage will result. Azaleas should be sprayed with an appropriate insecticide. Note: Azaleas in full sun are more frequently attacked by this insect than azaleas in the shade.
Related Questions
- Last summer, my azaleas got a bleached-out appearance and the undersides of the leaves were covered with small, black tar-like spots. What causes this and how do I prevent it?
- My azaleas and sycamore leaves have a bleached-out appearance and the undersides of the leaves are covered with tiny, shiny, black tar-like spots. What causes this?
- This year my azaleas and sycamore leaves got a bleached-out appearance and the underside of the leaves was covered with black tar-like spots. What causes this?
