Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Deciduous Trees > Oak > Pale, white or opaque discoloration of leaves
Oak > Leaves > Pale, white or opaque discoloration of leaves
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Oak lace bug
Corythucha arcuata
- White or yellow speckled or pinprick discolorations on upper side of leaf
- Defoliation can occur when trees are severely infested
- Lace bugs are 1/4 inch long; light colored bodies; intricate, lacy wings
- More information on Oak lace bug
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Oak leaf blister
Taphrina caerulescens
- Leaf blisters are initially pale green to orange, but turn brown with age
- Raised blister-like leaf spots; appear sunken from the underside of the leaf
- Blister areas range from 1/16 to 1/2 inch in length
- Heavy infestation will cause leaf to curl after the blisters have merged together
- Leaves do not drop
- Damage most common in spring as leaves are growing during wet weather
- More information on Oak leaf blister
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Iron chlorosis
- Leaf blades that are supposed to be green are yellow but leaf veins remain green
- Affected trees have poor growth, undersized leaves
- Most severe on branch tips or new growth
- Common on pin oaks (Quercus palustris)
- More information on Iron chlorosis
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Oak leaf miner
Cameraria spp.
- Larvae feed between leaf surfaces creating blotch-like mines
- Canopy looks brown when heavily infested; defoliation can occur
- Larvae 1/4 inch long with bodies that taper to rear, although larvae are rarely seen
- Primarily attacks white oak
- More information on Oak leaf miner
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Powdery mildew
Phyllactinia guttata
- White or gray powdery mats resembling talcum powder occur in spots, blotches or coat leaves
- Lower shaded leaves are most commonly affected, common on small understory trees
- Severely infected leaves are often curled or distorted
- Damage is common in spring or fall
- More information on Powdery mildew
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Oak slug sawfly
Caliroa quercuscoccineae
- Larvae windowpane feed underside of leaf, i.e. chew leaf one layer of leaf tissue between the veins creating a lacelike appearance
- Larvae is dark green to black and covered in slime; adult is non-stinging wasp that is rarely seen
- Damage first visible early summer
- Pin oak and black oak are preferred hosts
- More information on Oak slug sawfly
