Pest profile

Lantana Lace Bug

Teleonemia scrupulosa · Hemiptera: Tingidae[2]

Speckled, bleached lantana leaves with varnish-like spots underneath usually mean lantana lace bugs.[1]

Lantana lace bug, a tiny brown elongate bug, on a leaf next to a 1 mm scale bar
Lantana lace bug, a tiny brown elongate bug, on a leaf next to a 1 mm scale bar. Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh, public domain (CC0), via iNaturalist

How to identify it

  • Adults are 3 to 4 mm long, small, brown and elongate-oval.[1]
  • They feed under leaves but damage shows on top; varnish-like spots underneath set it apart from leafhopper damage.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Azalea lace bug and other lace bugsLantana lace bug damage resembles leafhopper damage, but lace bugs leave varnish-like spots under leaves.[1]

Where it lives

It ranges naturally from Florida and Texas south to South America and was introduced elsewhere to control lantana.[1]

US map: public records from 11 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

About 15 plant species, mostly Lantana and Leucophyllum, are recorded hosts.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Feeding speckles and discolors lantana leaves.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants; UF/IFAS mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Biological control

Egg parasites, lacewing larvae, assassin bugs, spiders and predatory mites attack lace bugs.[1]

Common questions

Why are my lantana leaves speckled and brown?
Lantana lace bugs feeding underneath are a common cause.[1]
How is it different from leafhopper damage?
Lace bugs leave varnish-like spots under leaves.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Lantana Lace Bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa (EENY-246).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN514 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Teleonemia scrupulosa taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/449919 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.