Honeylocust Plant Bugs Identification Guide
Diaphnocoris chlorionis
Honeylocust plant bugs are tiny green insects that feed exclusively on honeylocust trees. Their feeding causes leaf yellowing, distortion, and premature drop, though affected trees usually recover with a second flush of growth.
Taxonomy
Honeylocust Plant Bugs Coloration
Common color patterns to help identify honeylocust plant bugs
Honeylocust Plant Bugs
Seasonal Activity
When honeylocust plant bugs are most active throughout the year
Where Honeylocust Plant Bugs Are Found
Hover over states to see their names. Green regions indicate where honeylocust plant bugs have been reported.
Honeylocust Plant Bug Identification Guide
Physical Characteristics
Honeylocust plant bugs are small. They measure about 3 to 5 millimeters long, roughly 1/8 of an inch. Adults are pale to light green with full wings and long, thin antennae. Their green color blends in with new honeylocust leaves, so they are hard to spot.
Young bugs, called nymphs, look like smaller versions of the adults. They have short wing buds instead of full wings. Some nymphs show a small orange spot on the belly. Both nymphs and adults have needle-like mouthparts they use to pierce and feed on leaves.
Most people do not notice these bugs until brown spots and curled leaves appear on the tree.
Similar-Looking Insects
A few other small green insects live on trees and may look like honeylocust plant bugs:
- Four-lined plant bugs are bigger and have four black stripes on the wings. They feed on many types of plants.
- Tarnished plant bugs are brown and green with a small triangle on the back. They also eat many different plants.
- Aphids are smaller, soft, and cluster in large groups. They do not have the long body or antennae of plant bugs.
- Leafhoppers are wedge-shaped and jump when touched. Plant bugs do not hop.
Honeylocust Plant Bug Behavior and Biology
Host Plants and Feeding
Honeylocust plant bugs only feed on honeylocust trees (Gleditsia triacanthos). They prefer thornless types used in yards and along streets. When feeding, they pierce leaf cells and inject saliva that kills the tissue around each bite. This creates small yellow spots that later turn brown. Heavy feeding causes leaves to curl, shrink, and fall off the tree.
Penn State Extension reports that yellow-leaved types like ‘Sunburst’ get hit harder than green-leaved types like ‘Shademaster’ and ‘Skyline.‘
Life Cycle
These bugs have one generation per year. In midsummer, females lay eggs in rows under the bark of older twigs. The eggs stay in the bark all winter. They hatch in late April, right when the leaf buds open.
Nymphs go through five growth stages over about 30 days. They feed on the new leaves the entire time. Adults show up by late May or early June and keep feeding for a few more weeks. By mid-July, they are gone. The Morton Arboretum notes that even after heavy leaf loss, honeylocust trees usually grow a second round of leaves and survive.
Seasonal Activity
These bugs are only active for a short stretch in spring and early summer. Eggs hatch in late April. Nymphs feed through May. Adults appear from late May through June. By July, they are gone until the next spring. This short active window means there is a limited time to spot them and take action.
Treatment Methods for Honeylocust Plant Bugs
Honeylocust plant bugs only live on trees and do not enter homes. Treatment focuses on protecting landscape trees. The Morton Arboretum advises that treatment is usually not needed unless the problem is severe or has lasted several years in a row.
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Monitoring: Check new leaves in late April for tiny green nymphs and early signs of spotting or curling. Catching them early gives you the best chance to limit damage.
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Water Spray: A strong blast of water from a garden hose can knock nymphs off leaves. This works best when the bugs are still small and just starting to feed.
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Insecticidal Soap and Horticultural Oil: These products work on contact and can help control nymphs when sprayed 7 to 10 days after bud break. Good leaf coverage is key.
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Tree Health: Keeping your honeylocust tree well-watered and fed helps it bounce back from leaf loss. Healthy trees handle feeding damage much better than stressed ones.
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Choosing the Right Tree: If you are planting a new honeylocust, pick a green-leaved type like ‘Shademaster’ or ‘Skyline.’ These are less likely to attract heavy infestations than yellow-leaved types like ‘Sunburst.‘
References
Other Plant Bugs
Explore other species in the plant bugs family
Commonly Confused With
Honeylocust Plant Bugs are often mistaken for these similar pests
Where Honeylocust Plant Bugs Are Found
Hover over states to see their names. Green regions indicate where honeylocust plant bugs have been reported.
Common Questions about Honeylocust Plant Bugs
What do honeylocust plant bugs look like?
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Honeylocust plant bugs are small, about 3 to 5 millimeters long, and pale to light green. Their color closely matches the new growth of honeylocust trees, making them hard to spot. Nymphs look similar to adults but are smaller and have short wing buds instead of full wings.
What kind of damage do honeylocust plant bugs cause?
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These bugs feed by piercing leaf cells and injecting toxic saliva, which kills tissue around the feeding site. This causes yellow spots that turn brown, leaf curling, distortion, and stunted growth. In heavy infestations, trees may lose most of their leaves, though they usually grow new ones.
Will honeylocust plant bugs kill my tree?
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No. While heavy feeding can cause significant leaf loss, honeylocust trees almost always recover by producing a second flush of leaves later in the season. However, repeated heavy infestations over several years can stress the tree and weaken its overall health.
When are honeylocust plant bugs active?
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They are active for a short window in spring and early summer. Eggs hatch in late April as leaf buds open, nymphs feed through May, and adults appear by early June. By mid-July, the population has usually disappeared entirely. There is only one generation per year.
Do honeylocust plant bugs come inside homes?
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No. Honeylocust plant bugs feed exclusively on honeylocust trees and have no interest in entering homes. They do not bite, sting, or pose any risk to people or pets.
Are some honeylocust trees more susceptible than others?
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Yes. Yellow-leaved cultivars like 'Sunburst' tend to be more heavily attacked. Green-leaved varieties such as 'Shademaster' and 'Skyline' show greater resistance to feeding damage.
How can I reduce honeylocust plant bug damage?
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Inspect new leaves in late April for tiny green nymphs and early feeding damage. A strong spray of water from a hose can knock nymphs off leaves. Insecticidal soap applied shortly after bud break can also reduce populations. Keeping the tree healthy through proper watering and care helps it recover from feeding damage more quickly.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that's been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area.