Lantana lace bug

Scientific Name: Teleonemia scrupulosa

Order & Family: Hemiptera, Tingidae

Size: 3 to 4 mm in length

Lantana lace bug

Natural Habitat

Native to tropical America, but introduced worldwide; typically found on the undersides of Lantana camara leaves.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; feeds exclusively on the sap of plants in the morning glory and lantana family (Verbenaceae).

Behavior Patterns

They exhibit hemimetabolous development. Adults and nymphs gregariously feed on leaves, causing chlorosis and eventual leaf drop. They can produce several generations per year in warm climates.

Risks & Benefits

Generally beneficial as a biological control agent for invasive Lantana camara shrubs, though it may occasionally feed on other related ornamental plants. It poses no risk to humans.

Identified on: 3/18/2026