Hackberry Lace Bug: Appearance, Territory, Damage and Life

Latin name: Corythucha celtidis

Appearance: Adult lace H. bugs have exquisitely sculpted wings and thoraxes with a complex vein pattern that mimics lace. The thorax and wings are white and flat on top. The black body’s sides are covered by the wings. Adults measure about 3/8 inches long. The black, spiky, and pointy nymphs have both ends. On the undersides of the leaves, clusters of empty nymphal “shells” (exoskeletons) are common.

Host plants: Despite the fact that H. lace bugs from various tree species all resemble one another, each tree species is home to a unique species that is called after the host plant; for instance, the hackberry lace bug.

Territory: They were discovered in Nebraska, USA, in the towns of Bellevue and Fontenelle Forest.

Damage insect caused: H. Lace bugs are insects that feed on sap. They perch on the underside of the leaves and use their sucking mouthparts to puncture the leaf epidermis. This results in clusters of tiny whitish dots or chlorotic specks on the upper leaf surfaces, which give the leaves their distinctive look of being bleached. The underside of plants severely harmed by lace bugs is typically highly flecked with tiny, glossy, black “varnish patches” (excrement). The nymphs cause the majority of the damage earlier in the season, and spraying won’t make already-harmed leaves turn green again. As symptoms mount, harm will likely continue to draw attention. The more severely injured trees will begin to lose their leaves sooner.

Life cycle and habits: There are two types of lace bugs: those that target evergreen shrubs and those that affect deciduous trees and shrubs. Lace bugs that attack deciduous plants hibernate on the plant under bark or close to the plant in leaf litter during the winter as adults. The egg stage of lace bugs that attack evergreens spends the winter affixed to the leaves.