Can anyone ID these little bugs on my Oak?

[whitenack]

I was thinking about aphids, but they don't look like any aphids I see in pics. I can provide more pics if needed.

Thanks,

 

[Ed Roland]

Oak lacebug.

 

[whitenack]

What should I do? So far it looks like they are just on a few leaves.

 

[Ed Roland]

Beneficials will reduce populations.

Ensure proper cultural conditions. A healthy tree can fend for itself.

 

[whitenack]

Beneficials will reduce populations.

Ensure proper cultural conditions. A healthy tree can fend for itself.

Interesting you say that. The bugs are on this tree....

http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=1058311&postcount=4

 

[Ed Roland]

Yep. Tree is stressed. Lawn mower damage??

Root collar excavation, mulch, soil test. Monitor for opportunistic borers.

 

[whitenack]

Yep. Tree is stressed. Lawn mower damage??

Root collar excavation, mulch, soil test. Monitor for opportunistic borers.

Yeah, an out of control zero-turn.

 

[Jon Denver]

Those are aphids, you can always tell by the double horn on the but. The ants also are a dead ringer. They farm them.

Lady bugs, preying mantis and many other flying beetles are natural preditors.

 

[Ed Roland]

For a picture of Oak Lace Bug try this site.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/pubs/oakpests/p30.html
As you can see they are identical to the posted pics.

"Lace bugs feed by sucking juice from plant leaves, extracting the protein they need and excreting the excess juice as honeydew. The most common symptom of feeding is the stippled and mottled yellowish foliage. Positive signs of lace bugs are the insects, whitish cast-off skins and/or dark brown tarlike excrement on the underside of the leaves. In heavy infestations, black sooty mold, a nonparasitic fungus, may develop on the honeydew."

Milton G. Savos, Extension Entomologist, updated January 1995 by
Marie L. Dube, Extension Educator in-Residence, Horticulture

The ants are indicative of a piercing sucking insect but aphids did not corner the market on honeydew production.

opcorn: