Bug Identifier
Lace Bug
Community identification

Lace Bug

Family Tingidae (genera vary by host plant)

Order & Family
Order Hemiptera, Family Tingidae
Size
2mm to 8mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the undersides of leaves of various trees and shrubs like sycamore, oak, azalea, and rhododendron.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of plant leaves, often causing stippling or yellowing.

Behavior Patterns

They are slow-moving and spend most of their life on a single host plant. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with several nymphal stages before reaching adulthood.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans. While they may accidentally bite skin if they fall on a person, the bite is minor and not medically significant. They are agricultural/ornamental pests that can damage foliage.