Community identification
Lantana lace bug
Teleonemia scrupulosa
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Tingidae
- Size
- 3 to 4 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on the underside of leaves of lantana plants in tropical and subtropical regions.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on the sap of lantana leaves, causing chlorosis and leaf drop.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs and adults often reside together on the leaf undersurface. They are particularly active during warm, dry weather and can significantly suppress lantana growth and flowering.
Risks & Benefits
Used as a biological control agent to manage the invasive lantana plant worldwide; it poses no risk to humans or other non-target crops.