This includes azaleas and rhododendrons not planted in shade and under high acid soil conditions. Plants under water stress are also often more heavily damaged by lace bugs. Different varieties of host plants vary widely in their susceptibility to attack. It is not uncommon to find lace bugs severely damaging some plants in a mixed variety planting while other adjacent plants have few or no lace bugs. Chemical control works best before lace bugs build up in numbers.
Chemicals are also often the only option once a population has become large.
Monitoring the number and distribution of lace bugs on plant materials is highly recommended. Spot treatment of susceptible hosts rather than an area-wide control strategy is needed to fight lace bugs successfully. Low lace bug populations may be washed off host materials with water. Insecticidal soap apparently is effective if the underside of the leaves is adequately sprayed. Insecticides with systemic activity provide good control for large populations.