Community identification
Lace Bug
Stephanitis sp. (e.g., Stephanitis pyrioides)
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Tingidae
- Size
- 3 mm to 6 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the undersides of leaves of host plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and various trees.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap from leaf cells.
Behavior Patterns
They are known for their delicate, lace-like wings. They often cause 'stippling' or yellow spots on leaves. Females deposit eggs into leaf tissue, often covering them with a dark, varnish-like secretion.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans. Primarily a garden pest that can cause aesthetic damage to ornamental plants; in large numbers, they may weaken or kill the host plant. They provide a food source for ladybugs and lacewings.