Community identification
Lace Bug
Stephanitis sp. (e.g., Stephanitis pyrioides)
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Tingidae
- Size
- 2mm to 8mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on the undersides of leaves of various plants, including azaleas, rhododendrons, oaks, and sycamores.
Diet & Feeding
Plant sap (piercing-sucking mouthparts used on the undersides of leaves).
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs and adults typically live on the underside of leaves, leaving behind dark, varnish-like waste spots (frass). They exhibit hemimetabolous metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
They are agricultural and ornamental pests that cause stippling and chlorosis (yellowing) of leaves; they pose no physical risk to humans but can significantly damage landscape plants.