Lace bugs > Identify, Control & Disease Prevention Tips

Lace bugs

Lace bugs are tiny insects about 1/3 inch long. Adult bugs have light-colored bodies. Their wings are held flat and extend beyond the abdomen. Lace bug nymphs have a flat, oval-shaped body and no wings.

These tiny pests usually feed on deciduous trees and shrubs. They suck fluids from plants' photosynthetic tissues.

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Signs of damage

The bugs feed on the underside of leaves. They insert their needle-like mouthparts into leaf tissue, thus creating small mottled spots on the upper leaf surface. The spots can be white or yellow. Heavy feeding can provoke severe leaf discoloration and leaf drop. Pale stippling and bleaching on the upper leaf surface is another symptom you may encounter.

How to prevent

Start inspecting your plants for lace bugs in late spring or early summer. Make a point of examining them about once every two weeks during this period. Watch plants that have had a history of infestation closely.

Maintain the overall health of your greenery, as healthy plants can survive lace bug infestations.

Heal

Since the injury is purely aesthetic (cosmetic) in most cases, the best option is to tolerate and ignore the feeding. Many natural predators, including lady beetles, assassin bugs, green lacewings, and others, prey on lace bug eggs, nymphs, and adults. They will help limit lace bug feeding. However, it's okay to knock the larvae off small plants using a strong water stream. Since nymphs do not have wings, they cannot get back to plants.

Target the stream at the undersides of the leaves – this is where lace bugs are feeding.

If intolerable damage has occurred, you can resort to pesticides. In such a case, spray the undersides of the leaves where the pests hide.

You can also use horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps. They have a low impact on beneficial insects and natural lace bug enemies. Yet, these substances are effective against the Tingidae.

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