Tingidae
Guides
Kalama tricornis
hairy lacebug, gorse lacebug
Kalama tricornis is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, commonly known as the gorse lacebug or hairy lacebug. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Africa, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. As a member of the Tingidae family, it exhibits the characteristic reticulated, lace-like wing patterns that define lace bugs. The species was originally described by Schrank in 1801 and has been placed in the genus Dictyonota in some taxonomic treatments, though Kalama is the currently accepted genus.
Leptodictya nicholi
Leptodictya nicholi is a lace bug in the family Tingidae, described by Drake in 1926. The species belongs to a genus whose members are associated with monocotyledonous plants, particularly grasses and sedges. Records indicate presence in North America, specifically Arizona. As with other tingids, it likely feeds on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Leptodictya plana
Grass Lacebug
Leptodictya plana is a grass-feeding lace bug (Hemiptera: Tingidae) first described in 1913. It has been documented as an emerging pest on ornamental grasses in the southern United States, with Pennisetum species showing particular susceptibility to feeding damage and serving as oviposition hosts. The species remains seldom collected despite its economic relevance to horticulture.
Leptodictya simulans
Leptodictya simulans is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Heidemann in 1913. It is native to North America, with documented occurrences in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. As a member of Tingidae, it belongs to a group of small, flattened true bugs known for their distinctive reticulated wing covers.
Leptopharsa
lace bugs
Leptopharsa is a genus of lace bugs in the family Tingidae containing more than 120 described species. Species within this genus are associated with diverse host plants, including palms and rubber trees, and several are economically significant agricultural pests. Leptopharsa gibbicarina is a major pest of oil palm in Colombia and Venezuela, vectoring the Pestalotiopsis fungal complex that causes leaf spot disease. Leptopharsa heveae is a principal pest of rubber tree plantations in Brazil, where it can reduce latex productivity by up to 30%.
Leptopharsa clitoriae
Leptopharsa clitoriae is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Heidemann in 1911. It belongs to a genus of small, plant-feeding true bugs characterized by their distinctive reticulated, lace-like forewings. The species name references its association with Clitoria, a genus of leguminous plants. It is one of numerous North American tingids, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Leptopharsa oblonga
Leptopharsa oblonga is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other lace bugs, it is a small, sap-feeding true bug with distinctive reticulated wing covers. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1825.
Leptoypha costata
Leptoypha costata is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Parshley in 1917. It is characterized by the reticulated, lace-like wing covers typical of the family. The species has five nymphal instars, with documented morphological descriptions of eggs and immature stages.
Leptoypha drakei
Leptoypha drakei is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Mc Atee in 1919. Like other tingids, it possesses a distinctive reticulated, lace-like pronotum and hemelytra. The species is known from the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico.
Leptoypha mutica
Fringetree Lace Bug
Leptoypha mutica is a lace bug (family Tingidae) native to North and Central America. It is a specialist herbivore of plants in the family Oleaceae, with documented associations including ash (Fraxinus), fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), lilac (Syringa villosa), and Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). The species has been studied for its developmental biology and host choice behavior, particularly on invasive Chinese privet. Its feeding causes chlorotic blotches on leaves, with damage concentrated around leaf midribs and lateral veins.
Melanorhopala clavata
Melanorhopala clavata is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae. It is a true bug (Hemiptera) native to North America, with records spanning much of the continent including Canada and the United States. As a lace bug, it possesses the characteristic reticulated, lace-like wing covers typical of the family Tingidae. Specific biological details regarding its host plants, life history, and ecological role remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Minitingis
Minitingis is a genus of lace bugs (Tingidae) comprising two described species: M. minusculus (Barbados, 1954) and M. elsae (West Indies, 1968). Originally synonymized with Zetekella by Drake & Ruhoff (1960), it was revalidated by Froeschner (1968) based on distinct morphological characters and zoogeographical separation. The genus is restricted to the West Indies, contrasting with Zetekella's Neotropical mainland distribution (Panama, Brazil, Ecuador). Both species are known only from brachypterous forms.
Minitingis minusculus
Minitingis minusculus is a species of lace bug described by Barber in 1954. It belongs to the family Tingidae, a group of true bugs characterized by their distinctive reticulated, lace-like forewings. The species has been synonymized under the genus Zetekella in some taxonomic treatments, though it remains recognized as Minitingis minusculus in other sources. It is known from the Caribbean region.
Physatocheila
Physatocheila is a genus of lace bugs in the family Tingidae, established by Fieber in 1844. The genus comprises at least 50 described species distributed across the Holarctic region, with documented occurrences in Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), North America (United States), and Asia (China, Russian Far East). Species have been described from diverse geographic regions including Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China, and the southern Primorskiy Territory in the Russian Far East.
Physatocheila brevirostris
Physatocheila brevirostris is a species of lace bug (family Tingidae) described by Osborn and Drake in 1916. It is distributed across North America, with records from numerous Canadian provinces and U.S. states. Like other members of the family, it is a true bug with the characteristic reticulated wing covers that give lace bugs their common name.
Physatocheila variegata
Physatocheila variegata is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Parshley in 1916. The species is found across North America with records from Canada and the United States. It belongs to a genus of lace bugs typically associated with woody plants. Two subspecies are recognized: P. v. variegata and P. v. ornata.
Pseudacysta
avocado lace bug
Pseudacysta is a monotypic genus of lace bugs (family Tingidae) containing a single described species, P. perseae. The genus is notable for its specialized association with avocado as a host plant. The sole species is a significant agricultural pest causing foliar damage to avocado crops and has undergone substantial range expansion across the Americas.
Pseudacysta perseae
Avocado Lace Bug
Pseudacysta perseae is a lace bug in the family Tingidae, originally described by Heidemann in 1908. It is a significant foliar pest of avocado (Persea americana), causing characteristic damage to leaves. The species has undergone substantial range expansion from its original Caribbean distribution to include Mexico, the southern United States, and Central America. It has been introduced to California, where population genetic studies indicate at least two separate invasion events. The species passes through four nymphal instars and exhibits sexual dimorphism in antennal coloration, with adult males having a substantially darker fourth antennal segment.
Stephanitis
lace bugs
Stephanitis is a genus of lace bugs (family Tingidae) comprising at least 80–90 described species. Members are small, plant-feeding true bugs characterized by reticulated, lace-like forewings. Several species are significant ornamental pests, including the azalea lace bug (S. pyrioides) and andromeda lace bug (S. takeyai), which cause characteristic stippling damage on host foliage. The genus has a broad distribution across Asia, Europe, North America, and other regions, with some species introduced outside their native ranges.
Stephanitis pyrioides
Azalea Lace Bug
Stephanitis pyrioides, the azalea lace bug, is an invasive pest native to the East Palaearctic that has spread globally. It is a specialist feeder on Rhododendron species, particularly azaleas, causing characteristic white stippling damage to leaves through mesophyll feeding. The species undergoes multiple generations annually in temperate regions and has become a significant pest of ornamental horticulture.
Stethoconus
Stethoconus is a genus of predatory plant bugs in the family Miridae, subfamily Deraeocorinae. Species in this genus are obligate predators of lace bugs (Tingidae) and have been documented as biological control agents for agricultural pests. The genus has been recorded in Asia (Japan, Pakistan) and North America (Florida, USA), with individual species showing specific associations with particular tingid hosts.
Teleonemia belfragii
Teleonemia belfragii is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Stål in 1873. The species belongs to a genus of small, plant-feeding true bugs characterized by their distinctive reticulated wing covers. Observations are sparse, with only six records documented on iNaturalist. It is known to occur in the southeastern United States.
Teleonemia monile
Teleonemia monile is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, described by Van Duzee in 1918. Lace bugs in this genus are small, plant-feeding true bugs characterized by their distinctive reticulated wing covers. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Teleonemia montivaga
beardtongue lacebug
Teleonemia montivaga is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Drake in 1920. It is commonly known as the beardtongue lacebug. The species has been recorded in North America, with observation data suggesting presence in California.
Teleonemia scrupulosa
lantana lace bug
Teleonemia scrupulosa is a sap-sucking lace bug (Hemiptera: Tingidae) widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. It is a specialist herbivore of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) and has been deployed as a biological control agent against this invasive shrub in multiple countries since 1961. The species exhibits strong microhabitat preferences, thriving in high-light environments but failing to establish in shaded conditions. Its feeding causes characteristic chlorotic damage and can severely impair host plant photosynthesis.
Teleonemia variegata
Teleonemia variegata is a species of lace bug in the family Tingidae, first described by Champion in 1898. The genus Teleonemia belongs to the true bugs (Hemiptera), a group characterized by their piercing-sucking mouthparts and often distinctive reticulated wing venation. Records indicate this species occurs in Central America, with documented presence in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and potentially other regional localities. Like other tingids, it is likely associated with specific host plants, though detailed ecological information remains limited in available sources.