Community identification
Lace Bug
Family Tingidae (various species)
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Tingidae
- Size
- 2 to 8 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found primarily on the undersides of leaves of various host plants such as oaks, azaleas, sycamores, and rhododendrons.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap from the plant's vascular system.
Behavior Patterns
They are known for their lacy, reticulated wing patterns and often leave behind dark varnish-like spots of excrement on leaves. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans but can be a nuisance pest for garden plants, causing stippling and yellowing of foliage if populations are high.