Community identification
Lace Bug
Corythucha (likely Corythucha ciliata based on general appearance)
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Tingidae
- Size
- 2 mm to 4 mm (approx. 1/8 inch)
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the undersides of leaves of host plants, such as sycamore, oak, or azalea trees.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap/juices from the underside of leaves.
Behavior Patterns
They are slow-moving insects that stay on their host plants. Their life cycle includes egg, nymph, and adult stages, often leaving dark spots of excrement on the leaf surface.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans but can occasionally bite if they land on skin, causing minor irritation. They are considered pests as they cause 'stippling' or yellowing of leaves on ornamental trees.