Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae (genera vary by host plant, e.g., Corythucha)
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Tingidae
- Size
- Small, generally 2 mm to 10 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the undersides of leaves of various trees and shrubs, including sycamore, oak, and azalea.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap (cell juices) of plant leaves.
Behavior Patterns
They are known for their intricate, lace-like wing patterns. They often live in colonies on leaf undersides and leave behind dark, varnish-like excrement spots.
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a garden and agricultural pest that causes 'stippling' or yellowing of leaves; they are generally harmless to humans but can occasionally deliver a minor, non-venomous bite if they land on skin.