Community identification
Lace Bug
Stephanitis sp.
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Tingidae
- Size
- 2 to 8 mm (0.08 to 0.3 inches)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found on the undersides of leaves of trees and shrubs, including azaleas, rhododendrons, and sycamores.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous. They feed on plant sap by piercing the leaf epidermis with their needle-like mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
They are known for their distinctive rectangular, lace-like wing covers. They exhibit a sedentary lifestyle, often spending their entire life cycle on a single host plant.
Risks & Benefits
They are considered horticultural pests as they can cause chlorosis (yellow spotting) and premature leaf drop in ornamental plants. They do not pose a direct health risk to humans.