Angulate Tingid: Appearance, Territory, Damage, and Life Cycle

Latin Name: Corythuca Angulata

Appearance: The Hemipteran insect family Tingidae, also known as lace bugs, consists of very tiny (2–10 mm) insects. With over 2,000 known species, this group is widespread throughout the planet. The dorsal surface of an adult lace bug is intricately sculpted and measures about 1/8 inch (3 mm) in length. The name “lace bugs” refers to the many, semitransparent cells that cover their inflated thorax and forewing surfaces, which give the body a lace-like appearance. The tiny, oval, and typically dark-colored nymphs without wings have spines. On the underside of leaves, groups of adults and nymphs can be seen together.

Hosts Plants: Hosts include alder, ash, avocado, coyote brush, birch, ceanothus, photinia, poplar, sycamore, toyon, and willow.

Territory: California

Damage Insect Cause: Corythuca Angulata are often host-specific and can be extremely damaging to plants. By penetrating the epidermis and sucking the sap, most feed on the undersides of leaves. The empty cells on the leaves then give them a bronzed or silvery appearance. Each individual normally spends the entirety of their life on the same plant, if not the same portion of the plant.

Plants that are well adapted to the site should be grown. Consider replacing plants that perform badly or suffer from pest damage on a regular basis. Lace bugs are more prone to harm some plant species that grow in hot, sunny conditions. Provide proper irrigation and care for the plants in different ways.

Life History and Habits: The majority of species have one to two generations every year, while some have several generations. Most species overwinter as adults, although some overwinter as eggs or nymphs. This group undergoes partial metamorphosis, as the immature stages resemble the adults except that the immatures are smaller and lack wings. Wing pads, on the other hand, develop in the second and third instars and grow in size as the nymph progresses. Lace bugs have four or five instars, depending on the species.