Using aesthetic assessments of azalea lace bug (Heteroptera : tingidae) feeding injury to provide thresholds for pest management decisions

Research on consumer, grower, and landscape manager perception of azalea la ce bug, Stephanitis pyrioides (Scott), feeding and on plant productivity pa rameters, including gas exchange and growth, has increased our understandin g of the nature of feeding injury. These studies made it possible to develo p decision-making guidelines for cost-effective maintenance of aestheticall y pleasing azaleas, Criteria were considered for three management situation s: a 0.41-ha (1-acre) nursery production system that may use either insecti cidal soap, acephate, or imidacloprid to control lace bugs; a landscape pla nting of a group of 10 azaleas; or maintenance of a single azalea in the la ndscape. Lace bug thresholds were calculated using a hybrid economic injury level (EIL) formula. Pesticide application decisions were determined using survey-based data from grower, landscape manager, and consumer perceptions of unacceptably injured azaleas at point-of-purchase for the nursery situa tion. Additional landscape scenarios incorporated the perceptions of grower s, landscape managers, and consumers for those levels of lace bug feeding-i njury that prompted the desire for treatment. Hybrid EIL determinations are appropriate for lace bug management in landscape systems where landscape p rofessionals manage large plantings of azaleas and as a component of pest m anagement among nursery production systems. Aesthetic considerations are mo re appropriate in determining control thresholds among a few or individual azaleas in the landscape.