Lace Bug

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the undersides of leaves of various host plants including azaleas, rhododendrons, oaks, and sycamores.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap from the underside of leaves.

Behavior Patterns

They are known for their distinctive rectangular, lace-like wing covers. They often deposit dark, resinous fecal spots on leaves and undergo incomplete metamorphosis with several generations per year depending on the climate.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered ornamental pests as heavy infestations cause 'stippling' (yellow or white spots) on foliage, which can weaken the plant and cause premature leaf drop; they pose no direct risk to humans.

Identified on: 12/27/2025