Lace Bug
Family Tingidae (multiple species possible depending on region and plant host)
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Tingidae
- Size
- 2 mm to 4 mm (about 1/8 inch or smaller)
Natural Habitat
Found globally, typically on the underside of leaves of various trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivore: they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of plant leaves, particularly within the mesophyll layer.
Behavior Patterns
They are relatively sedentary insects that dwell on the underside of leaves. They undergo simple metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). Infestations often look like yellow stippling or bleaching on the top side of leaves, with dark fecal spots underneath.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: They are agricultural and ornamental pests that can cause foliage discoloration, premature leaf drop, and plant stress. Benefits: They serve as a food source for generalist predators like lady beetles and lacewings; they do not bite humans or transmit diseases to people.