Azalea problem - advice needed

[Kyushu Danji]

I bought this azalea 2 weeks ago from a local nursery, and planned on planting it in the ground for non-bonsai purposes in the autumn. When I bought it, all of the leaves looked very lush and healthy - the reason I bought it, and had new growth coming out. I had been eying it for ages since it had been sat there for ages and was alot of azalea for the price. When I check on it this morning,, the azalea had started to turn white around the edges of the leaves and there are tiny flee-like insects infesting it. It has been kept in light shade since I bought it, similar to the conditions in the nursery from where I bought it.
So what am I doing wrong? Are these insects causing the azalea to turn white? How can I get rid of them and how can I get the lush green foliage back?




The insects are pretty visible on this photo

All help is appreciated, as always

James

[astroboy76]

it appears that the bugs are either eating the leaves of sucking the sap from the leaves which is leaving the white marks. could it be aphids? they drink from the leaves and can cause this issue. I would buy a good quality pest spray and give a good spray on top and under all the leaves.

[nealweb]

Get a systemic insecticide like confidor, rogor, defender - maxguard and spray it thoroughly today and keep it away from hot direct sun when sprayed (as you are anyway). The bugs there should be killed on contact and if you keep water off the leaves for 24hrs the spray should absorb and give protection for a further fortnight. It should recover, those leaves will stay damaged but if you keep the bugs under control the new growth will be good again. Just watch it and respray as soon as you see any bugs reappearing. I think it is thrips.

Good luck!

[NBPCA]

It a classic case of Lace Bug. Really nasty and endemic with Azalea.

As the Parson said when he saw insects in his vegetable patch; "Lettuce Spray!"

In Confidor we trust.

Grant

[Kyushu Danji]

Thanks for the help. Confidor it is!

[craigw60]

Hi Dan, if you ever visit an azalea wholesaler its like a chemical factory they spray so much, one thing with lace bug is they don't like moisture so when you water wet the foliage both sides of the leaves.
Craigw