Lace Bug

Natural Habitat

Found on the undersides of leaves of various trees and shrubs including sycamore, oak, azalea, and hawthorn.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on plant juices by piercing the leaves with their needle-like mouthparts, causing stippling or yellowing of foliage.

Behavior Patterns

Lace bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis. They are often found in groups on the underside of leaves and leave behind characteristic dark, varnish-like waste spots.

Risks & Benefits

Generally considered a minor garden pest that can cause aesthetic damage to ornamental plants. They are mostly harmless to humans but can occasionally give a minor, annoying bite if they land on skin.

Identified on: 1/8/2026