Eggplant Lace Bugs on Vegetables

Whitening of eggplant leaves

Appearance 

• The lace bugs themselves are not that noticeable but their feeding damage is. 
• They are dark brown around the head and have lacey, well-veined wings.

Life cycle/habits

• Adults overwinter in nearby weeds and garden debris. They become active in May.
• Females lay eggs on the undersides of leaves. Adults develop quickly and disperse to nearby plants.
• Potentially multiple generations per season.

Host plants

• This lace bug feeds on eggplant primarily but is also occasionally found on other members of the Solanaceae family- tomato, potato, etc. 

Signs/symptoms

• Whitening of eggplant leaves.

Monitoring

• Inspect plants closely, especially the undersides of the leaves, for signs of this pest if leaves become stippled or begin to fade and lose their green color. 

Prevention/control

• Apply ultra-fine horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to control damaging populations of this occasional pest. Be sure to direct the spray to the upper and lower leaf surfaces.