Lace bugs

Definition

A family (Tingidae) of minute, plant-feeding true bugs in the order Hemiptera, distinguished by their elaborately reticulated, lace-like forewings and flattened, often broadly expanded body margins. Adults and nymphs typically live on the undersides of leaves, piercing plant tissue to feed; many species are host-specific and several are economically significant pests of ornamental and crop plants.

Etymology

From the delicate, net-like (reticulate) venation of the wings resembling lace.

Example

The sycamore lace bug (Corythucha ciliata) forms dense colonies on the undersides of plane-tree leaves, causing stippled yellowing and premature leaf drop; its distinctive flattened, reticulate wings make adults readily identifiable in the field.

Synonyms

• Tingidae

Related Terms

• Hemiptera
• true bugs
• reticulate
• host specificity
• plant pests
• Corythucha
• Stephanitis

Usage Notes

Strictly refers to the family Tingidae, not to other insects with lacy wings. The common name is sometimes written as a single word ('lacebugs') in older literature. Distinguish from 'lacewings' (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), which are unrelated predatory insects with similar common-name confusion.