How to Identify Pests That Can Harm Your Azalea

Azalea bushes are a beautiful hallmark of spring. Their blossoms are colorful reminders that winter is gone and summer will soon be here. Protecting azaleas from pests is important. Follow these steps to identify pests that could harm your azaleas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. If your azalea has lost its leaves or has young leaves that are chewed, you may have an azalea caterpillar. This pest is brown with white and yellow stripes. It is usually 10 to 51 mm in length and can have a red head.
2. If your azaleas have a pattern of discoloration on the leaves or black dots under the leaves, you could have an azalea lace bug. This pest is 3 mm long and leaves a brown and black lace pattern on leaves.
   
3. If you see brown raised bumps on the leaves of your azalea or the leaves are curling upwards, an azalea leafminer could be to blame. This pest is small and yellow, but you will probably not see it. The pests dine between the two surfaces of the azalea's leaf.
   
4. Voles, or meadow mice, can chew on the bark of the azalea as well as the roots, killing your entire azalea plant.
5. If you see notched leaves that are not growing well, your azalea could have fallen prey to the black vine weevil.