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Whitening of eggplant leaves

Eggplant lace bug damage and signs of the insects on the underside
of a leaf
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.

Eggplant lace bugs on the underside of an eggplant leaf
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.