Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae (genera and species vary by host plant)
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Tingidae
- Size
- 2 to 8 mm (approximately 1/8 to 1/3 inch) in length.
Natural Habitat
Found on the underside of leaves of various trees and shrubs, including azaleas, oaks, and sycamores.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap from the undersides of leaves.
Behavior Patterns
Lace bugs often stay on the same plant for their entire life cycle. They are known for leaving dark, varnish-like spots of excrement on the underside of leaves. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
They are agricultural and ornamental pests that cause 'stippling' or yellowing of leaves, which can reduce the aesthetic value and health of plants. They do not pose a direct health risk to humans or pets.