Ash Plant Bug

Pest Description

• adults: 3/8 inch; pale yellow, brown to black; yellowish-green triangle on back between wings
• nymphs: similar in appearance but are smaller, ovoid, wingless and may vary in color
• eggs: oblong and laid on bark or undersides of leaves

Host Plants, Diet & Damage

• ash
• feed on sap of ash leaves
• white stippling on top of leaves; wilting, curling, stunted and drying leaves
• brown to black fecal spots on damaged leaves
• browning leaves and leaf drop later in the season
• most damage occurs on young foliage in late-May

Biology, Life Cycle & Damaging Life Stage

• overwinter as eggs near buds or within bark fissures
• egg hatch begins in late-April to mid-May
• first generation develops into adults and eggs are laid in June on leaf midribs
• second generation feeds from July until frost
• second generation eggs laid in late summer and fall
• two generations per year
• nymphs and adults are the damaging stages

IPM Recommendations

• Manage trees to improve or maintain health.
• Damage is mostly aesthetic; tolerate pest.
• Ash plant bugs on young or nursery trees may require management.
• Apply an insecticide (carbamate; insecticidal soap; pyrethroid) about 1 week after budbreak to manage young first generation nymphs. Target the undersides of foliage.