Lace Bug
Stephanitis spp. (likely Stephanitis pyrioides)
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Tingidae
- Size
- 2 mm to 4 mm (0.08 to 0.16 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found on the undersides of leaves of host plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and various trees.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap (chlorophyll) of leaves, causing a stippled or bleached appearance.
Behavior Patterns
They are slow-moving and spend most of their lives on the underside of leaves. They leave behind characteristic dark, varnish-like waste spots (fecal matter) on the foliage. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
They are considered horticultural pests as they can cause significant aesthetic damage to ornamental plants and weaken trees. They pose no physical risk to humans or pets but offer no significant benefits to the ecosystem in a garden setting.