What are the common pests of azaleas? Detailed explanation of control methods

The common pests of azaleas include: red spider mites, lace bugs, aphids, short-bearded mites, etc. Red spider mites are tiny in size but cause severe damage to azaleas. This type of pest is most likely to appear when azaleas are grown in high-rise buildings.

The control method is manual capture and killing. For chemical pest control, a 5-degree lime-sulfur mixture can be sprayed, or equal parts of walnut leaves, oleander leaves and sweet wormwood can be crushed and soaked to extract the liquid, diluted with water and then sprayed. Spraying with a 1000-fold water dilution of dichlorvos is also a good method.

The adult lace bug is small and flat, about 4 mm long, black, and is one of the most damaging pests to evergreen azaleas. It often pierces and sucks leaf sap from the underside of leaves, causing yellow-white spots to appear on the upper surface of the affected leaves, which makes the leaves fall off, weakens the tree's vigor, and affects growth and flowering. Azaleas in greenhouses are extremely prone to this pest.

The control method is mainly spraying with chemicals. A 1000-fold dilution of 90% trichlorfon technical material, or a 1500-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate, or a 1000-1500-fold dilution of 50% fenitrothion emulsion can be sprayed for control.

Aphids mainly damage the young branches and leaves of azaleas. In mild cases, the leaves lose their green color; in severe cases, the leaves curl, become hard and brittle, cannot absorb nutrients, and flowering is affected.

The control method is to pay special attention to aphids during the overwintering period. After winter begins, spray the plants once with a 5-degree lime-sulfur mixture to eliminate overwintering eggs, and remove weeds near the flowers to eliminate the source of pests. During the aphid damage period, use 40% dimethoate or omethoate mixed with 1200 times water to make a solution and spray continuously; 3-4 times is enough to see results.

The short-bearded mite is one of the important pests of azaleas. It often pierces and sucks sap near the main veins on the underside of leaves, causing many oily patches to form on the leaf underside, and finally causing the leaves to fall off. This pest is obovate, about 0.3 mm long, flat, with body colors of red, dark red and wood red, irregular black spots on the back, and irregular black patches on the sides. This pest is most commonly seen in summer when the weather is hot and dry, and decreases immediately when rainfall is high.

For the control method, spraying once each in mid-to-late October and in early spring in March with a 0.5-degree Baume lime-sulfur mixture, or spraying with a 500-fold dilution of 25% insecticide water emulsion, also gives good results.