Lace bugs destroying crops............ !!!!!!

MUMBAI, India - Feb. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Lace bugs are also known as Tingidae. They are 1/8 to ¼ inch long, light colored bodies, and elaborate ornate, lacy wings that look broad and flat from above. Lace bugs are known as Pronotum. The forewings of the adult have a delicate and intricate network of divided areas that resemble lace.

Lace bugs can be very destructive to plants. Most of the lace bugs feed on the undersides of leaves by piercing the epidermis and sucking the sap. Lace bug damage to the foliage of trees and shrubs detracts greatly from plant its beauty, also reduces the plant’s ability to produce food. It decreases plant vigor and causes the plant to be more susceptible to damage by other insects, diseases or unfavorable weather conditions.

Plants which are mainly susceptible to it include Hackberry, walnut, basswood, white oak, bur oak, williow, chokecherry, hawthorn, amelanchier, cotoneasters, and other ornamentals.

Research shows that host plants are more susceptible to lace bugs if planted in full sun and subjected to drought stress.

Many chemicals are used to control lace bugs damage. Such are Permethrin, Cyfluthrin, Acephate, Scimitar and Carbaryl which are harmful for environment and human beings. They are also not very effective and do not provide a long lasting solution.

In 2009- 2011 due to lace bugs net crop quality loss was estimated to be 40-95%. Macadamia lace bugs caused losses over 90% in variety of crops.

Estimated loss cost was USD 300,000 and control costs was USD 1750,000 for each group of livestock and associated pests in Georgia in 2006.

All the other alternative methods used like biological control, physical and cultural control, chemical control are not very effective and environment friendly. To overcome damage by the lace bugs we have to go for a better environment friendly and effective method.

C Tech Corporation provides us with its niche product Termirepel^®™ which is non-toxic, non-hazardous and environmental friendly insect repellent and repels 500 species of insects. Its life span is 25-40 years depending on the end application. It can be easily incorporated in agricultural tubing and hosing, drip irrigation, agricultural films, tarps, mulches. As it does not leach out from the application it does not contaminate ground water and soil.