Eggplant Lace Bug

Natural Habitat

Found primarily on the undersides of leaves of plants in the Solanaceae family, especially eggplants and horsenettle.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant juices from the foliage.

Behavior Patterns

Notable for maternal care, where the female remains with her eggs and young nymphs to protect them from predators. They complete their life cycle from egg to adult in about 20 days.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered a significant agricultural pest, causing yellowing, wilting, and reduced fruit production in eggplant crops. They pose no direct risk to humans.

Identified on: 3/26/2026