Lace Bug

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the undersides of leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs (like sycamore, oak, azalea, and rhododendron). They occasionally fall onto sidewalks or outdoor furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivores; they feed by piercing plant cells and sucking out the juices (sap) from leaves, often leaving stippled white or yellow spots.

Behavior Patterns

They tend to stay on the host plant throughout their life cycle. Adults have elaborate, lace-like wings. They are generally slow-moving but can fly.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans, though they can occasionally land on skin and cause a mild pricking sensation or bite, which can be annoying but not medically significant. They are pests to ornamental plants, causing cosmetic damage like leaf discoloration and premature leaf drop.

Identified on: 2/20/2026