Common name: oak lace bug
Scientific name: Corythucha arcuata
What does it affect?: oaks and sometimes maples
Areas affected so far: not currently in the UK
Origin: North America
An insect pest which attacks oaks, the oak lace bug can reduce growth and weaken trees. With number of other diseases already affecting oaks, the arrival of the oak lace bug would pose a serious threat.
Common name: oak lace bug
Scientific name: Corythucha arcuata
What does it affect?: oaks and sometimes maples
Areas affected so far: not currently in the UK
Origin: North America
Symptoms include:
The oak lace bug is a non-native species of lace bug. We do have native lace bugs, but none of them feed on oak trees.
The adult bug is very easily recognised as it has very delicate milky-white and lacy wings with variable brown markings. They reach up to 4mm long.
They feed on oak leaves during the summer months. There are multiple generations in a season so adults, nymphs and eggs can all be present on leaves throughout late spring and summer. The adults overwinter in leaf litter and crevices in bark.
Credit: Doug Wechsler / Nature Picture Library
While this pest is yet to reach the UK, there is a risk of it arriving on infested plants or plant materials. If they do arrive, they will spread locally to new hosts as adults fly and are blown by the wind.
As this pest affects leaves, it impacts the photosynthesis of the tree. This makes infested trees more vulnerable to other pests and diseases. Consecutive years of severe oak lace bug damage, combined with other stress factors, might even kill some trees. Any damage will be most severe during dry weather, when trees are already under stress.
To combat the spread of pests and diseases like the oak lace bug we have:
We are fighting back against pests and diseases. Find out what we're doing to prevent the spread and protect the UK’s trees.
More pests and diseases: