Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Tingidae
- Size
- 2 to 8 mm (0.08 to 0.3 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found on the underside of leaves of various trees and shrubs, including azaleas, oaks, and sycamores.
Diet & Feeding
Piercing-sucking mouthparts used to feed on plant sap from the underside of leaves.
Behavior Patterns
They are slow-moving and often found in clusters. Their life cycle includes egg, nymph, and adult stages, often leaving behind dark spots of excrement on leaves.
Risks & Benefits
They are primarily aesthetic pests that cause 'stippling' or yellowing of leaves. They pose no risk to humans but can weaken heavily infested plants.