Birds on the Brain

animalworld:

LACE BUG
Tingidae: Hemiptera
©Rundstedt B. Rovillos

Tingidae is a family of very small [2-10 mm] insects in the order Hemiptera that are commonly referred to as lace bugs. This group is distributed worldwide and consists of approximately 2,000 species. This one was photographed in Quezon City, National Capital Region, Philippines.

They are called lace bugs because the pronotum and forewings of the adult have a delicate and intricate network of divided areas that resemble lace. Their body appearance is flattened dorso-ventrally and they can be broadly oval or slender. Often the head is concealed under the hood-like pronotum.

Lace bugs are usually host specific and can be very destructive to plants. Most feed on the undersides of leaves by piercing the epidermis and sucking the sap. The then empty cells give the leaves a bronzed or silvery appearance. Each individual usually completes its entire life cycle on the same plant, if not the same part of the plant.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tingidae

Other posts:

Turquoise Cicada

Mallotus Shield Bugs

Broadheaded Sharpshooter