
Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Tingidae
- Size
- 2 to 10 mm (0.08 to 0.39 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found on the undersides 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 of plant leaves, causing yellow or white stippling on the foliage.
Behavior Patterns
They are usually slow-moving and spend most of their lives on the host plant. They lay eggs along the midrib of leaf undersides and often leave behind dark varnish-like spots of excrement.
Risks & Benefits
They are considered garden pests as they can damage ornamental plants and trees. They pose no direct risk to humans, although they may occasionally bite if they land on skin, which can cause minor irritation.