CLOSED: Infestation of small greyish bugs on sunflowers

Chandler, AZ

I've looked all over the place trying to identify these little bugs that are attacking my sunflowers. If anyone can help me I'd really appreciate it. They are grey and their wings are king of papery looking. They are very small as well, only an eighth of an inch long or so, and they seem to lay tiny brown eggs on the underside of the leaves, usually the ones lower to the ground. Wherever they or their eggs are, the leaves start to turn yellow and are speckled with little dark brown dots. The eggs seem to hatch into small, spherical brown things. They're so small it's hard to know what they are, I can't see legs or eyes or anything on them. I have been hitting them with a dish soap and garlic oil solution, but it doesn't seem to deter them at all. When I get the adults wet, sometimes they get overturned and I can see that they are only grey on top, but are actually black or dark brown underneath. I think they've stunted the growth of several of my sunflowers, so I'd like to get them out of my garden ASAP. I have a huge variety of veggies in my garden including tomatoes and these bugs are only interested in the sunflowers. Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Thumbnail by itsteganyay
Minot, ND

These appear to be lace bugs (family Tingidae) - http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/arthropoda/corythucha.html

Chandler, AZ

Thank you very much! I'm glad to finally know what they are :)

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
BACK TO TOP