The eggs hatch in late June and July and the crawlers move to the leaves. The crawlers insert their mouthparts and begin to suck sap from the leaves. The females move back to the branches before the leaves drop. The insect injures the plant by sucking the sap. The insects will excrete honeydew and this can support the growth of black sooty mold.
Heavy infestations can cause leaf drop.
Crawlers can be controlled with sprays of Sevin or Orthene. Overwintering stages are controlled with dormant oil spray. Visuals associated with this text. This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.