When it comes to landscape pests, some of the most damaging offenders are also some of the smallest. Meet the lace bug—a tiny insect that may look delicate and harmless, but can leave your favorite ornamental plants looking tired, stressed, and unhealthy. Named for the intricate, lace-like pattern on their wings, lace bugs spend most of their lives hidden on the undersides of leaves. There, they feed by piercing leaf tissue and sucking out plant sap. As they feed, they destro

Whiteflies are easy to recognize because when disturbed, they erupt from leaves like a miniature white snowstorm. These tiny insects gather on leaf undersides where they feed on plant sap. Like aphids, they produce sticky honeydew that encourages black sooty mold growth. Heavy infestations can cause yellowing leaves, reduced vigor, and premature leaf drop. The good news is that nature often lends a hand. Beneficial insects like lady beetles and lacewings help keep whitefly po