Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae (genera vary by host plant)
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Tingidae
- Size
- 2 mm to 8 mm (approx. 1/8 to 1/3 inch)
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the undersides of leaves of various trees and shrubs, including azaleas, oaks, and sycamores.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to drain sap from the undersides of leaves.
Behavior Patterns
Lace bugs are known for their distinctive rectangular, gauze-like wings. They are usually slow-moving and spend most of their lives on a single host plant, laying eggs along the leaf veins.
Risks & Benefits
They are considered garden pests as their feeding causes 'stippling' (yellow or white spots) on leaves, which can weaken plants. They do not pose a direct risk to humans or pets.