Lace Bug

Natural Habitat

Found globally on the undersides of leaves on a wide variety of host plants, including trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous. These insects use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap from the underside of leaves, causing yellow or white stippling on the upper surface.

Behavior Patterns

They are slow-moving and often spend their entire life cycle on a single host plant. They lay eggs along leaf veins and secrete sticky 'varnish' spots (fecal matter) on the foliage.

Risks & Benefits

While they do not pose a direct health risk to humans, they are considered garden pests that can cause aesthetic damage and stress to plants. In extreme infestations, they can cause premature leaf drop.

Identified on: 2/25/2026