Community identification
Lace Bug
Stephanitis sp.
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Tingidae
- Size
- 3 mm to 6 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on the undersides of leaves of various ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees.
Diet & Feeding
Feed on plant sap by piercing the leaf epidermis with their needle-like mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
They are typically found in groups and leave behind distinctive dark spots of varnish-like excrement on the leaf surface.
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a landscape pest that causes stippling and yellowing of foliage; they do not bite humans or pets but can cause significant aesthetic damage to plants.