Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Tingidae
- Size
- 2 to 8 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on the undersides of leaves of various trees and shrubs, including sycamore, oak, and azaleas.
Diet & Feeding
Lace bugs are herbivores that use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap from the undersides of leaves.
Behavior Patterns
They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages. They are known for their lace-like appearance of the wings and thorax in adults, and they often stay clustered on host plants.
Risks & Benefits
They can cause aesthetic damage to ornamental plants and trees through 'stippling' or yellowing of leaves. While they don't harm humans, they can be minor garden pests. They provide a food source for predatory insects.