Lace Bug

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the undersides of leaves of specific host plants (trees, shrubs, and ornamentals) in gardens, landscapes, and forests.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of plant leaves, often causing stippling (yellow or white spots) on the top side of the leaf.

Behavior Patterns

They are slow-moving insects that often live in colonies on the underside of leaves. They deposit dark, varnish-like spots of excrement on the foliage. Their life cycle includes eggs, six nymphal stages, and winged adults.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans, though they may occasionally bite if they land on skin (not medically significant). They are considered pests because heavy infestations can cause leaf drop and stress to plants, though they rarely kill healthy plants.

Identified on: 1/3/2026