What's eating my lantana?

Lantana's worst enemy is the lantana lace bug, which bleaches foliage from beneath, leaving it silvery and papery. Whitefly populations can explode on warm-season plants, and spider mites thrive in hot, dry spells. In gardens, caterpillars may chew leaves. Lace bugs cause the most visible decline — treat early with neem oil.

Upper leaf surface turns pale silver or stippled; leaf undersides show dark tar-like frass deposits; severe infestations cause defoliation Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 7–10 days; avoid overhead watering which can spread pests

Dense white fly clouds when plant is disturbed; sooty mold; yellowing and weakened stems Use yellow sticky traps; spray undersides with insecticidal soap; ensure good air circulation around plants

Fine pale speckling on leaves; webbing in hot dry conditions; leaves look bleached Spray foliage with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every week; avoid prolonged drought stress

Ragged holes in leaves; frass on foliage; occasional complete defoliation of stems Hand-pick in the evening; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray as a targeted biological control