Lace Bug Nymph (or exuvia)

Natural Habitat

Found on the underside of leaves of specific host trees and shrubs, such as oaks across North America and Europe.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on plant sap by piercing the leaf surface, typically causing stippling or bleaching of the leaves.

Behavior Patterns

Lace bugs often remain stationary and feed in groups on the underside of leaves. They go through incomplete metamorphosis, shedding their skins (exuviae) as they grow, which often remain attached to leaves.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered plant pests. While harmless to humans, they can cause aesthetic damage to ornamental plants (yellowing or stippling leaves). They occasionally bite humans if they land on skin, causing minor irritation.

Identified on: 3/1/2026