Hawaii’s avocado orchards are under threat as the avocado lace bug is wreaking havoc across the region. The pest, first identified in Oahu in December 2019, has since proliferated across Hawaii Island, turning the leaves of avocado trees a sickly brown before they fall off prematurely. The loss of foliage not only reduces the aesthetic appeal of these once-flourishing trees but also exposes the fruit to sunburn, further reducing their quality.

The hopes of University of Hawaii entomologists for a better season, banking on these natural predators to curtail the lace bug population, have been dashed. The infestations could lead to decreased crop yields and potentially prove lethal for trees already weakened by other stress factors.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com