Endoterapia Vegetal
///Sycamore lace bug

Sycamore lace bug

Sycamore lace bug2019-02-28T14:12:40+00:00

Project Description

Fig. a - Adults and nymphs of Corythucha ciliata.
Fig. b – Adults and nymphs of Corythucha ciliata.
Fig. c - Damage caused by sycamore lace bug to a leaf of Platanus sp.
Fig. d - Result obtained with plant endotherapy treatment (ENDOterapia Vegetal®) of a group of American sycamores on the same avenue; in the image of the right we can see the greener, intense colour of the specimens treated, in addition to a dense foliar mass. However, in the image on the left, we can see the untreated specimens, which show early defoliation due to premature leaf fall and weaker, more yellowish coloration.
Fig. d - Result obtained with plant endotherapy treatment (ENDOterapia Vegetal®) of a group of American sycamores on the same avenue; in the image of the right we can see the greener, intense colour of the specimens treated, in addition to a dense foliar mass. However, in the image on the left, we can see the untreated specimens, which show early defoliation due to premature leaf fall and weaker, more yellowish coloration.
The sycamore lace bug is a pest that comes from the USA. It that was detected for the first time in our Spain in the American sycamores at a park called Parque de la Devesa, Girona, in 1979. Since then, it has extended progressively to all the Iberian peninsula, becoming completely established.

It is a sucking hemiptera/ homoptera insect (Fig. a and Fig. b). The adult is around 4 mm long, reticulate in appearance, with transparent wings, white veins and a bright black abdomen. The nymphs are dark in colour and go through 5 larval instars (in the last one they develop the elytra).

The adults spend the winter under the bark and in the cracks of the trunk, so they are able to withstand extreme cold temperatures. In spring, with budding, the adults leave the winter lethargy moving towards the leaves, placing themselves on the underside where they feed. After conception, females lay eggs near nerve endings. Further on, the eggs hatch. Nymphs of the same larval instar tend to group together and live in a gregarious way. They can have as many as three generations a year.

It feeds on the sap of the leaves, leaving yellow spots on the upper side (Fig. c); the insect causing this is found on the underside of the leaf, where the colony lives. The most characteristic symptom is the discoloration of the leaves, starting from the intersection of the secondary nerves with the main one, until the whole leaf is completely yellowish. In severe attacks, it causes a mass wilting and premature defoliation of the tree, leaving it without leaves at the end of summer.

This pest mainly causes two types of damage:

  • Impairment of the vigour of the tree due to decreased photosynthetic capacity.
  • Visual and environmental, due to the unsightly appearance of trees and the nuisance caused by adults in urban areas, due to their mass appearance and unconfortable bites.
Carry out a treatment with plant endotherapy (ENDOterapia Vegetal®) in a preventive way to avoid the onset of problems; the treatment will be carried out when the first adults appear after coming out of winter diapause.

A curative treatment can also be carried out. However, damage caused will disappear at a slower pace.

Project Details

Common name:
SYCAMORE LACE BUG.
Scientific name:
Corythucha ciliata.
Affected plants:
Mainly species of the genus Platanus; it has occasionally been found on other species such as Fraxinus and Hacer.

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ENDOterapia Vegetal
C/ Ripollès, 23 - Pol. Ind. el Pla CP. 17486 - Castelló d'Empúries Girona - Spain
Tel.: +34 972 158 889 Fax: +34 972 158 890
info@endoterapiavegetal.com

Feder
ENDOterapia Vegetal, S.L. en el marco del Programa ICEX Next, ha contado con el apoyo de ICEX y con la cofinanciación de fondo europeo FEDER. La finalidad de esta apoyo es contribuir al desarrollo internacional de la empresa y de su entorno.